FBL Financial Group Leads Monday's AMBG as Global Insurance Index Declines 7.56%

Tue. September 30, 2008; Posted: 10:16 AM

OLDWICK, N.J., Sep 30, 2008 (A. M. Best via COMTEX) -- GNW | Quote | Chart | News | PowerRating -- The AMBG closed Monday, Sept. 29, at 922.98 (-7.56%). All 15 A.M. Best stock indexes declined. Leading A.M. Best's Global Insurance Composite Index (AMBG) were FBL Financial Group (+13.51%) and China Insurance International Holdings (+6.34%). Trailing the list of global insurance stocks were Genworth Financial (-38.57%) and Conseco (-35.87%).

The Asia/Pacific Insurance Index led the sector indexes, with the U.S. Health and HMO Insurance Index trailing the list. In descending order, the A.M. Best Insurance Stock Indexes closed at:

Asia/Pacific Insurance Index (AMBAP) -1.78%

Global Non-Life Insurance Index (AMBGNL) -5.12%

Global Insurance Brokers Index (AMBGB) -5.50%

U.S. Insurance Brokers Index (AMBUB) -5.55%

U.S. Property/Casualty Insurance Index (AMBUPC) -5.80%

Global Reinsurance Index (AMBGR) -5.94%

Global Multi-Line Insurance Index (AMBGML) -6.89%

Global Composite Index (AMBG) -7.56%

U.S. Insurance Index (AMBUS) -7.63%

U.S. Life Insurance Index (AMBUL) -8.05%

European Insurance Index (AMBEUR) -8.82%

U.S. Life and Health/HMO Insurance Index (AMBULH) -9.33%

U.S. Multi-Line Insurance Index (AMBUML) -9.99%

Global Life Insurance Index (AMBGL) -10.59%

U.S. Health and HMO Insurance Index (AMBUH) -11.04%

The U.S. Insurance Index (AMBUS) closed at 849.37 (-7.63%). Leading the AMBUS were FBL Financial Group (+13.51%) and Willis Group Holdings (+3.71%). Trailing the AMBUS were Genworth Financial (-38.57%) and Conseco (-35.87%).

The European Insurance Index (AMBEUR) closed at 1006.76 (-8.82%)%. Leading the AMBEUR were Paris Re Holdings (+1.72%) and Omega Insurance Holdings (+0.33%). Trailing the AMBEUR were ING Groep N.V. (-18.19%) and Aegon N.V. (-14.86%).

The Asia/Pacific Insurance Index (AMBAP) closed at 1299.70 (-1.78%). Leading the AMBAP were China Insurance International Holdings (+6.34%) and Nissay Dowa General Insurance (+1.58%). Trailing the AMBAP were Mitsui Sumitomo Insurance Group Holdings (-4.95%) and Dongbu Insurance Co. (-4.76%).

The Global Reinsurance Index (AMBGR) closed at 1110.81 (-5.94%). Leading the AMBGR were China Insurance International Holdings (+6.34%) and Paris Re Holdings (+1.72%). Trailing the AMBGR were XL Capital (-20.15%) and ING Groep N.V. (-18.19%).

The Global Broker Index (AMBGB) closed at 1091.04 (-5.50%). Leading the AMBGB were Willis Group Holdings (+3.71%) and Benfield Group (-0.90%). Trailing the AMBGB were AmTrust Financial Services Inc. (-8.38%) and Marsh & McLennan Cos. (-7.77%).

The Global Multi-Line Insurance Index (AMBGML) closed at 732.56 (-6.89%). Leading the AMBGML were Atlantic American Corp. (0.00%) and Assicurazioni Generali S.p.A. (-2.24%). Trailing the AMBGML were American International Group (-20.63%) and Delphi Financial Group (-13.39%).

The Global Nonlife Insurance Index (AMBGNL) closed at 1148.42 (-5.12%). Leading the AMBGNL were Paris Re Holdings (+1.72%) and Nissay Dowa General Insurance (+1.58%). Trailing the AMBGNL were Affirmative Insurance Holdings Inc. (-29.64%) and XL Capital (-20.15%).

The Global Life Insurance Index (AMBGL) closed at 895.75 (-10.59%). Leading the AMBGL were FBL Financial Group (+13.51%) and China Insurance International Holdings (+6.34%). Trailing the AMBGL were Genworth Financial (-38.57%) and Conseco (-35.87%).

The U.S. Property/Casualty Index (AMBUPC) closed at 1147.15 (-5.80%). Leading the AMBUPC were Fairfax Financial Holdings (+0.41%) and Transatlantic Holdings (+0.22%). Trailing the AMBUPC were Affirmative Insurance Holdings Inc. (-29.64%) and XL Capital (-20.15%).

The U.S. Multi-Line Insurance Index (AMBUML) closed at 275.55 (-9.99%). Leading the AMBUML were Atlantic American Corp. (0.00%) and American Financial Group (-5.48%). Trailing the AMBUML were AIG (-20.63%) and Delphi Financial Group (-13.39%).

The U.S. Life Insurance Index (AMBUL) closed at 1087.53 (-8.05%). Leading the AMBUL were FBL Financial Group (+13.51%) and Manulife Financial (+0.03%). Trailing the AMBUL were Genworth Financial (-38.57%) and Conseco (-35.87%).

The U.S. Life and Health/HMO Insurance Index (AMBULH) closed at 966.90 (-9.33%). Leading the AMBULH were FBL Financial Group (+13.51%) and Manulife Financial (+0.03%). Trailing the AMBULH were Genworth Financial (-38.57%) and Conseco (-35.87%).

The U.S. Health and HMO Index (AMBUH) closed at 836.85 (-11.04%). Leading the AMBUH were Penn Treaty American (0.00%) and Universal American (-1.86%). Trailing the AMBUH were UnitedHealth Group (-18.64%) and Aflac Inc. (-14.41%).

The U.S. Insurance Brokers Index (AMBUB) closed at 1073.73 (-5.55%). Leading the AMBUB were Willis Group Holdings (+3.71%) and Hilb Rogal & Hobbs Co. (-1.08%). Trailing the AMBUB were AmTrust Financial Services Inc. (-8.38%) and Marsh & McLennan Cos. (-7.77%).

Performance rankings of companies in each A.M. Best insurance sector index are published weekly in BestWeek.

The A.M. Best stock indexes cover 182 publicly traded insurance companies and brokers. Index values are calculated by Dow Jones Indexes in U.S. dollars. Companies in the A.M. Best stock indexes include insurers and insurance-related organizations with credit ratings from A.M. Best, along with brokers. A.M. Best does not provide investment recommendations. A listing of companies in each A.M. Best Index is available at http://www.ambest.com/stocks.

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