Kingsway Financial Services Leads Wednesday’s AMBG as Global Insurance Index Rises 2.84%

The AMBG closed Wednesday, Oct. 5, at 742.96 (+2.84%). Of the 15 A.M. Best stock indexes, 14 rose and one declined. Leading A.M. Best's Global Insurance Composite Index (AMBG) were Kingsway Financial Services (+11.43%) and Axa S.A. (+8.81%). Trailing the list of global insurance stocks were Singapore Reinsurance Corp. (-7.41%) and Dongbu Insurance Co. (-7.09%).

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

European Insurance Index (AMBEUR) +5.64%

Global Multi-Line Insurance Index (AMBGML) +5.20%

U.S. Life Insurance Index (AMBUL) +4.43%

Global Life Insurance Index (AMBGL) +4.19%

U.S. Multi-Line Insurance Index (AMBUML) +3.43%

U.S. Life and Health/HMO Insurance Index (AMBULH) +3.38%

Global Composite Index (AMBG) +2.84%

U.S. Health and HMO Insurance Index (AMBUH) +2.52%

Global Reinsurance Index (AMBGR) +2.27%

U.S. Insurance Index (AMBUS) +2.10%

Global Insurance Brokers Index (AMBGB) +2.05%

U.S. Insurance Brokers Index (AMBUB) +2.05%

U.S. Property/Casualty Insurance Index (AMBUPC) +0.81%

Global Non-Life Insurance Index (AMBGNL) +0.71%

Asia/Pacific Insurance Index (AMBAP) -0.54%

The U.S. Insurance Index (AMBUS) closed at 764.98 (+2.10%). Leading the AMBUS were Hartford Financial Services Group (+6.74%) and Manulife Financial (+6.39%). Trailing the AMBUS were Fortegra Financial Corp. (-4.17%) and Atlantic American Corp. (-3.23%).

The European Insurance Index (AMBEUR) closed at 666.52 (+5.64%). Leading the AMBEUR were Axa S.A. (+8.81%) and ING Groep N.V. (+8.62%). Trailing the AMBEUR were Hiscox (-1.71%) and Omega Insurance Holdings (-0.85%).

The Asia/Pacific Insurance Index (AMBAP) closed at 916.19 (-0.54%). Leading the AMBAP were QBE Insurance Group Ltd. (+3.64%) and CNinsure Inc. (+2.95%). Trailing the AMBAP were Singapore Reinsurance Corp. (-7.41%) and Dongbu Insurance Co. (-7.09%).

The Global Reinsurance Index (AMBGR) closed at 890.05 (+2.27%). Leading the AMBGR were Axa S.A. (+8.81%) and ING Groep N.V. (+8.62%). Trailing the AMBGR were Singapore Reinsurance Corp. (-7.41%) and White Mountains Insurance Group (-1.86%).

The Global Broker Index (AMBGB) closed at 1107.68 (+2.05%). Leading the AMBGB were CNinsure Inc. (+2.95%) and Aon (+2.66%). Trailing the AMBGB were InsWeb (-2.10%) and Advance Create Co. (-1.56%).

The Global Multi-Line Insurance Index (AMBGML) closed at 454.76 (+5.20%). Leading the AMBGML were Axa S.A. (+8.81%) and Allianz (+7.28%). Trailing the AMBGML were Atlantic American Corp. (-3.23%) and Horace Mann Educators (-0.69%).

The Global Nonlife Insurance Index (AMBGNL) closed at 1064.43 (+0.71%). Leading the AMBGNL were Kingsway Financial Services (+11.43%) and National Security Group (+5.82%). Trailing the AMBGNL were Singapore Reinsurance Corp. (-7.41%) and Dongbu Insurance Co. (-7.09%).

The Global Life Insurance Index (AMBGL) closed at 703.93 (+4.19%). Leading the AMBGL were ING Groep N.V. (+8.62%) and Aviva (+7.37%). Trailing the AMBGL were Phoenix Cos. (-2.50%) and Investors Heritage Capital Co. (-1.88%).

The U.S. Property/Casualty Index (AMBUPC) closed at 1135.99 (+0.81%). Leading the AMBUPC were National Security Group (+5.82%) and EMC Insurance Group (+4.34%). Trailing the AMBUPC were OneBeacon Insurance Group Ltd. (-2.36%) and SeaBright Holdings Inc. (-2.20%).

The U.S. Multi-Line Insurance Index (AMBUML) closed at 160.57 (+3.43%). Leading the AMBUML were Hartford Financial Services Group (+6.74%) and American National Insurance (+4.88%). Trailing the AMBUML were Fortegra Financial Corp. (-4.17%) and Atlantic American Corp. (-3.23%).

The U.S. Life Insurance Index (AMBUL) closed at 624.16 (+4.43%). Leading the AMBUL were Manulife Financial (+6.39%) and MetLife (+6.22%). Trailing the AMBUL were Phoenix Cos. (-2.50%) and Investors Heritage Capital Co. (-1.88%).

The U.S. Life and Health/HMO Insurance Index (AMBULH) closed at 831.81 (+3.38%). Leading the AMBULH were Manulife Financial (+6.39%) and MetLife (+6.22%). Trailing the AMBULH were Phoenix Cos. (-2.50%) and Investors Heritage Capital Co. (-1.88%).

The U.S. Health and HMO Index (AMBUH) closed at 1102.58 (+2.52%). Leading the AMBUH were UnitedHealth Group (+3.90%) and Aflac Inc. (+3.57%). Trailing the AMBUH were Aetna (-0.87%) and Universal American (-0.52%).

The U.S. Insurance Brokers Index (AMBUB) closed at 1029.38 (+2.05%). Leading the AMBUB were Aon (+2.66%) and Marsh & McLennan Cos. (+2.29%). Trailing the AMBUB were InsWeb (-2.10%) and AmTrust Financial Services Inc. (-0.84%).

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

The A.M. Best stock indexes cover 180 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.