Chaucer Holdings Leads Thursday's AMBG as Global Insurance Index Declines 3.89%

OLDWICK, N.J., Oct 03, 2008 (A. M. Best via COMTEX) -- HIG | Quote | Chart | News | PowerRating -- The AMBG closed Thursday, Oct. 2, at 914.43 (-3.89%). All 15 A.M. Best stock indexes declined. Leading A.M. Best's Global Insurance Composite Index (AMBG) were Chaucer Holdings (+14.69%) and Brit Insurance Holdings (+8.15%). Trailing the list of global insurance stocks were Hartford Financial Services Group (-32.01%) and Principal Financial Group (-16.26%).

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

Asia/Pacific Insurance Index (AMBAP) -0.37%

Global Reinsurance Index (AMBGR) -0.97%

Global Non-Life Insurance Index (AMBGNL) -1.74%

U.S. Property/Casualty Insurance Index (AMBUPC) -2.13%

Global Insurance Brokers Index (AMBGB) -2.53%

U.S. Insurance Brokers Index (AMBUB) -2.83%

U.S. Health and HMO Insurance Index (AMBUH) -3.81%

European Insurance Index (AMBEUR) -3.83%

Global Composite Index (AMBG) -3.89%

U.S. Insurance Index (AMBUS) -4.36%

Global Life Insurance Index (AMBGL) -5.06%

Global Multi-Line Insurance Index (AMBGML) -5.67%

U.S. Life and Health/HMO Insurance Index (AMBULH) -6.10%

U.S. Life Insurance Index (AMBUL) -7.88%

U.S. Multi-Line Insurance Index (AMBUML) -8.99%

The U.S. Insurance Index (AMBUS) closed at 851.15 (-4.36%). Leading the AMBUS were NYMagic (+6.61%) and Eastern Insurance Holdings (+6.08%). Trailing the AMBUS were Hartford Financial Services Group (-32.01%) and Principal Financial Group (-16.26%).

The European Insurance Index (AMBEUR) closed at 975.70 (-3.83%)%. Leading the AMBEUR were Chaucer Holdings (+14.69%) and Brit Insurance Holdings (+8.15%). Trailing the AMBEUR were Old Mutual plc (-9.59%) and Axa S.A. (-8.94%).

The Asia/Pacific Insurance Index (AMBAP) closed at 1295.59 (-0.37%). Leading the AMBAP were Tower Ltd. (+5.11%) and Samsung Fire & Marine Insurance Co. Ltd. (+3.57%). Trailing the AMBAP were Korean Reinsurance Co. (-4.22%) and Nissay Dowa General Insurance (-2.82%).

The Global Reinsurance Index (AMBGR) closed at 1118.51 (-0.97%). Leading the AMBGR were Chaucer Holdings (+14.69%) and Paris Re Holdings (+7.53%). Trailing the AMBGR were Everest Re Group (-11.34%) and Aspen Insurance Holdings (-9.26%).

The Global Broker Index (AMBGB) closed at 1066.37 (-2.53%).

The Global Multi-Line Insurance Index (AMBGML) closed at 692.21 (-5.67%). Leading the AMBGML were Hannover Rueckversicherungs AG (+1.70%) and AIG (+1.27%). Trailing the AMBGML were Hartford Financial Services Group (-32.01%) and Delphi Financial Group (-11.53%).

The Global Nonlife Insurance Index (AMBGNL) closed at 1174.64 (-1.74%). Leading the AMBGNL were Chaucer Holdings (+14.69%) and Brit Insurance Holdings (+8.15%). Trailing the AMBGNL were State Auto Financial (-11.54%) and Everest Re Group (-11.34%).

The Global Life Insurance Index (AMBGL) closed at 887.15 (-5.06%). Leading the AMBGL were Phoenix Cos. (+4.08%) and ING Groep N.V. (+2.52%). Trailing the AMBGL were Principal Financial Group (-16.26%) and MetLife (-14.93%).

The U.S. Property/Casualty Index (AMBUPC) closed at 1187.30 (-2.13%). Leading the AMBUPC were NYMagic (+6.61%) and Eastern Insurance Holdings (+6.08%). Trailing the AMBUPC were State Auto Financial (-11.54%) and Everest Re Group (-11.34%).

The U.S. Multi-Line Insurance Index (AMBUML) closed at 255.51 (-8.99%). Leading the AMBUML were AIG (+1.27%) and Atlantic American Corp. (0.00%). Trailing the AMBUML were Hartford Financial Services Group (-32.01%) and Delphi Financial Group (-11.53%).

The U.S. Life Insurance Index (AMBUL) closed at 1018.76 (-7.88%). Leading the AMBUL were Phoenix Cos. (+4.08%) and American Equity Inv. Life (+1.83%). Trailing the AMBUL were Principal Financial Group (-16.26%) and MetLife (-14.93%).

The U.S. Life and Health/HMO Insurance Index (AMBULH) closed at 952.29 (-6.10%). Leading the AMBULH were Phoenix Cos. (+4.08%) and American Equity Inv. Life (+1.83%). Trailing the AMBULH were Principal Financial Group (-16.26%) and MetLife (-14.93%).

The U.S. Health and HMO Index (AMBUH) closed at 879.82 (-3.81%). Leading the AMBUH were Coventry Health Care (-1.04%) and UnitedHealth Group (-1.28%). Trailing the AMBUH were Penn Treaty American (-8.97%) and Aflac Inc. (-7.15%).

The Global Broker Index (AMBGB) closed at 1066.37 (-2.53%). Leading the AMBGB were Jardine Lloyd Thompson Group plc (+5.80%) and Aon (+1.45%). Trailing the AMBGB were eHealth Inc. (-11.03%) and Marsh & McLennan Cos. (-6.25%).

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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