Kansas City Life Insurance Leads Wednesday's AMBG as Global Insurance Index Declines 5.32%

OLDWICK, N.J., Oct 09, 2008 (A. M. Best via COMTEX) -- KCLI | Quote | Chart | News | PowerRating -- The AMBG closed Wednesday, Oct. 8, at 777.25 (-5.32%). Of the 15 A.M. Best stock indexes, two rose and 13 declined. Leading A.M. Best's Global Insurance Composite Index (AMBG) were Kansas City Life Insurance (+14.59%) and First American Corp. (+11.64%). Trailing the list of global insurance stocks were XL Capital (-27.67%) and MetLife (-26.77%).

The U.S. Insurance Brokers 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:

U.S. Insurance Brokers Index (AMBUB) +1.09%

Global Insurance Brokers Index (AMBGB) +0.75%

U.S. Health and HMO Insurance Index (AMBUH) -1.68%

U.S. Life and Health/HMO Insurance Index (AMBULH) -3.71%

U.S. Insurance Index (AMBUS) -4.71%

U.S. Property/Casualty Insurance Index (AMBUPC) -4.72%

Global Life Insurance Index (AMBGL) -5.00%

Global Non-Life Insurance Index (AMBGNL) -5.08%

Global Composite Index (AMBG) -5.32%

U.S. Life Insurance Index (AMBUL) -5.42%

Asia/Pacific Insurance Index (AMBAP) -5.65%

European Insurance Index (AMBEUR) -6.42%

Global Reinsurance Index (AMBGR) -6.63%

Global Multi-Line Insurance Index (AMBGML) -7.02%

U.S. Multi-Line Insurance Index (AMBUML) -13.57%

The U.S. Insurance Index (AMBUS) closed at 714.62 (-4.71%). Leading the AMBUS were Kansas City Life Insurance (+14.59%) and First American Corp. (+11.64%). Trailing the AMBUS were XL Capital (-27.67%) and MetLife (-26.77%).

The European Insurance Index (AMBEUR) closed at 829.28 (-6.42%)%. Leading the AMBEUR were Brit Insurance Holdings (+3.87%) and Hiscox (+3.41%). Trailing the AMBEUR were Swiss Reinsurance (-11.08%) and ING Groep N.V. (-10.82%).

The Asia/Pacific Insurance Index (AMBAP) closed at 1202.42 (-5.65%). Leading the AMBAP were Korean Reinsurance Co. (-2.28%) and Samsung Fire & Marine Insurance Co. Ltd. (-2.29%). Trailing the AMBAP were Dongbu Insurance Co. (-12.28%) and LIG Insurance Co. (-9.32%).

The Global Reinsurance Index (AMBGR) closed at 936.81 (-6.63%). Leading the AMBGR were Montpelier Re Holdings (+2.67%) and Chaucer Holdings (+1.35%). Trailing the AMBGR were XL Capital (-27.67%) and Reinsurance Group of America Inc. (-13.30%).

The Global Broker Index (AMBGB) closed at 1016.64 (+0.75%). Leading the AMBGB were Aon (+8.27%) and Marsh & McLennan Cos. (+0.21%). Trailing the AMBGB were Willis Group Holdings (-8.23%) and Benfield Group (-4.35%).

The Global Multi-Line Insurance Index (AMBGML) closed at 592.35 (-7.02%). Leading the AMBGML were Assurant (+2.87%) and First Acceptance Corp. (+0.34%). Trailing the AMBGML were Allstate (-21.18%) and Unitrin (-15.62%).

The Global Nonlife Insurance Index (AMBGNL) closed at 1015.18 (-5.08%). Leading the AMBGNL were First American Corp. (+11.64%) and Fidelity National Financial (+5.47%). Trailing the AMBGNL were XL Capital (-27.67%) and CNA Financial (-21.10%).

The Global Life Insurance Index (AMBGL) closed at 728.40 (-5.00%). Leading the AMBGL were Kansas City Life Insurance (+14.59%) and Manulife Financial (+6.45%). Trailing the AMBGL were MetLife (-26.77%) and Protective Life Corp. (-24.62%).

The U.S. Property/Casualty Index (AMBUPC) closed at 1010.19 (-4.72%). Leading the AMBUPC were First American Corp. (+11.64%) and Fidelity National Financial (+5.47%). Trailing the AMBUPC were XL Capital (-27.67%) and CNA Financial (-21.10%).

The U.S. Multi-Line Insurance Index (AMBUML) closed at 203.02 (-13.57%). Leading the AMBUML were Assurant (+2.87%) and Atlantic American Corp. (0.00%). Trailing the AMBUML were Allstate (-21.18%) and Unitrin (-15.62%).

The U.S. Life Insurance Index (AMBUL) closed at 810.01 (-5.42%). Leading the AMBUL were Kansas City Life Insurance (+14.59%) and Manulife Financial (+6.45%). Trailing the AMBUL were MetLife (-26.77%) and Protective Life Corp. (-24.62%).

The U.S. Life and Health/HMO Insurance Index (AMBULH) closed at 781.63 (-3.71%). Leading the AMBULH were Kansas City Life Insurance (+14.59%) and Manulife Financial (+6.45%). Trailing the AMBULH were MetLife (-26.77%) and Protective Life Corp. (-24.62%).

The U.S. Health and HMO Index (AMBUH) closed at 749.96 (-1.68%). Leading the AMBUH were WellPoint (+2.77%) and AFLAC Inc. (+2.70%). Trailing the AMBUH were Health Net (-10.20%) and Triple-S Management Corp. (-8.65%).

The U.S. Insurance Brokers Index (AMBUB) closed at 997.43 (+1.09%). Leading the AMBUB were Aon (+8.27%) and Marsh & McLennan Cos. (+0.21%). Trailing the AMBUB were Willis Group Holdings (-8.23%) and AmTrust Financial Services Inc. (-2.54%).

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

The A.M. Best stock indexes cover 179 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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