InsWeb Leads Wednesday’s AMBG as Global Insurance Index Rises 0.02%

The AMBG closed Wednesday, Dec. 29, at 867.08 (+0.02%). Of the 15 A.M. Best stock indexes, eight rose and seven declined. Leading A.M. Best's Global Insurance Composite Index (AMBG) were InsWeb (+6.53%) and Kingsway Financial Services (+6.06%). Trailing the list of global insurance stocks were Omega Insurance Holdings (-2.97%) and American International Group (-2.82%).

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) +0.34%

Global Insurance Brokers Index (AMBGB) +0.28%

European Insurance Index (AMBEUR) +0.27%

U.S. Insurance Brokers Index (AMBUB) +0.19%

Global Reinsurance Index (AMBGR) +0.11%

Global Non-Life Insurance Index (AMBGNL) +0.11%

U.S. Health and HMO Insurance Index (AMBUH) +0.05%

Global Composite Index (AMBG) +0.02%

Global Life Insurance Index (AMBGL) -0.04%

U.S. Property/Casualty Insurance Index (AMBUPC) -0.05%

Global Multi-Line Insurance Index (AMBGML) -0.07%

U.S. Insurance Index (AMBUS) -0.13%

U.S. Life and Health/HMO Insurance Index (AMBULH) -0.18%

U.S. Life Insurance Index (AMBUL) -0.37%

U.S. Multi-Line Insurance Index (AMBUML) -0.59%

The U.S. Insurance Index (AMBUS) closed at 865.72 (-0.13%). Leading the AMBUS were InsWeb (+6.53%) and First Acceptance Corp. (+3.43%). Trailing the AMBUS were AIG (-2.82%) and Phoenix Cos. (-1.87%).

The European Insurance Index (AMBEUR) closed at 816.42 (+0.27%). Leading the AMBEUR were Euler Hermes (+4.35%) and Jardine Lloyd Thompson Group plc (+2.31%). Trailing the AMBEUR were Omega Insurance Holdings (-2.97%) and Hansard Global (-1.48%).

The Asia/Pacific Insurance Index (AMBAP) closed at 1174.09 (+0.34%). Leading the AMBAP were Meritz Fire & Marine Insurance (+2.83%) and LIG Insurance Co. (+2.53%). Trailing the AMBAP were National Reinsurance Co. (-2.17%) and Samsung Fire & Marine Insurance Co. Ltd. (-0.92%).

The Global Reinsurance Index (AMBGR) closed at 1029.42 (+0.11%). Leading the AMBGR were Euler Hermes (+4.35%) and Singapore Reinsurance Corp. (+1.75%). Trailing the AMBGR were National Reinsurance Co. (-2.17%) and Endurance Specialty Holdings (-0.97%).

The Global Broker Index (AMBGB) closed at 1170.15 (+0.28%). Leading the AMBGB were InsWeb (+6.53%) and Austbrokers Holdings (+2.40%). Trailing the AMBGB were Hansard Global (-1.48%) and National Financial Partners (-1.41%).

The Global Multi-Line Insurance Index (AMBGML) closed at 568.77 (-0.07%). Leading the AMBGML were First Acceptance Corp. (+3.43%) and HCC Insurance Holdings (+0.48%). Trailing the AMBGML were AIG (-2.82%) and Unitrin (-1.59%).

The Global Nonlife Insurance Index (AMBGNL) closed at 1185.75 (+0.11%). Leading the AMBGNL were Kingsway Financial Services (+6.06%) and Euler Hermes (+4.35%). Trailing the AMBGNL were Omega Insurance Holdings (-2.97%) and State Auto Financial (-1.38%).

The Global Life Insurance Index (AMBGL) closed at 842.10 (-0.04%). Leading the AMBGL were Centene Corp. (+1.82%) and FBL Financial Group (+1.28%). Trailing the AMBGL were Phoenix Cos. (-1.87%) and American Equity Inv. Life (-1.40%).

The U.S. Property/Casualty Index (AMBUPC) closed at 1233.53 (-0.05%). Leading the AMBUPC were First Acceptance Corp. (+3.43%) and RLI Corp. (+2.09%). Trailing the AMBUPC were State Auto Financial (-1.38%) and OneBeacon Insurance Group Ltd. (-1.28%).

The U.S. Multi-Line Insurance Index (AMBUML) closed at 220.49 (-0.59%). Leading the AMBUML were HCC Insurance Holdings (+0.48%) and American Financial Group (+0.18%). Trailing the AMBUML were AIG (-2.82%) and Unitrin (-1.59%).

The U.S. Life Insurance Index (AMBUL) closed at 893.57 (-0.37%). Leading the AMBUL were FBL Financial Group (+1.28%) and Pekin Life Insurance Co. (+1.03%). Trailing the AMBUL were Phoenix Cos. (-1.87%) and American Equity Inv. Life (-1.40%).

The U.S. Life and Health/HMO Insurance Index (AMBULH) closed at 964.90 (-0.18%). Leading the AMBULH were Centene Corp. (+1.82%) and FBL Financial Group (+1.28%). Trailing the AMBULH were Phoenix Cos. (-1.87%) and American Equity Inv. Life (-1.40%).

The U.S. Health and HMO Index (AMBUH) closed at 1040.45 (+0.05%). Leading the AMBUH were Centene Corp. (+1.82%) and Molina Healthcare (+0.80%). Trailing the AMBUH were Universal American (-0.61%) and Unum Group (-0.57%).

The U.S. Insurance Brokers Index (AMBUB) closed at 1081.21 (+0.19%). Leading the AMBUB were InsWeb (+6.53%) and Life Partners (+1.34%). Trailing the AMBUB were National Financial Partners (-1.41%) and Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. (-0.37%).

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

The A.M. Best stock indexes cover 192 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.