Marsh: Property Insurers Concentrating on Risk Management

The AMBG closed Wednesday, Feb.11, at 617.48 (+0.50%). Of the 15 A.M. Best stock indexes, 10 rose and five declined. Leading A.M. Best's Global Insurance Composite Index (AMBG) were XL Capital (+61.38%) and Marsh & McLennan Cos. (+14.43%). Trailing the list of global insurance stocks were Kingsway Financial Services (-7.94%) and Axa S.A. (-7.20%).

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

U.S. Insurance Brokers Index (AMBUB) +6.86%

Global Insurance Brokers Index (AMBGB) +6.54%

U.S. Multi-Line Insurance Index (AMBUML) +4.80%

U.S. Property/Casualty Insurance Index (AMBUPC) +3.30%

U.S. Insurance Index (AMBUS) +2.54%

Global Non-Life Insurance Index (AMBGNL) +2.17%

U.S. Health and HMO Insurance Index (AMBUH) +1.13%

Global Reinsurance Index (AMBGR) +0.79%

U.S. Life and Health/HMO Insurance Index (AMBULH) +0.64%

Global Composite Index (AMBG) +0.50%

U.S. Life Insurance Index (AMBUL) -0.01%

Asia/Pacific Insurance Index (AMBAP) -0.48%

Global Life Insurance Index (AMBGL) -0.70%

Global Multi-Line Insurance Index (AMBGML) -1.80%

European Insurance Index (AMBEUR) -3.15%

The U.S. Insurance Index (AMBUS) closed at 595.96 (+2.54%). Leading the AMBUS were XL Capital (+61.38%) and Marsh & McLennan Cos. (+14.43%). Trailing the AMBUS were Triple-S Management Corp. (-7.04%) and Fidelity National Financial (-4.17%).

The European Insurance Index (AMBEUR) closed at 597.13 (-3.15%)%. Leading the AMBEUR were RSA Insurance Group plc (+3.23%) and Amlin plc (+2.81%). Trailing the AMBEUR were Axa S.A. (-7.20%) and Old Mutual plc (-4.15%).

The Asia/Pacific Insurance Index (AMBAP) closed at 985.74 (-0.48%). Leading the AMBAP were Dongbu Insurance Co. (+4.79%) and Meritz Fire & Marine Insurance (+4.53%). Trailing the AMBAP were China Insurance International Holdings (-4.15%) and QBE Insurance Group Ltd. (-2.17%).

The Global Reinsurance Index (AMBGR) closed at 740.87 (+0.79%). Leading the AMBGR were XL Capital (+61.38%) and Endurance Specialty Holdings (+5.13%). Trailing the AMBGR were Axa S.A. (-7.20%) and China Insurance International Holdings (-4.15%).

The Global Broker Index (AMBGB) closed at 849.12 (+6.54%). Leading the AMBGB were Marsh & McLennan Cos. (+14.43%) and eHealth Inc. (+3.89%). Trailing the AMBGB were Jardine Lloyd Thompson Group plc (+0.05%) and Brown & Brown (+1.26%).

The Global Multi-Line Insurance Index (AMBGML) closed at 441.04 (-1.80%). Leading the AMBGML were Horace Mann Educators (+6.94%) and American National Insurance (+6.09%). Trailing the AMBGML were Axa S.A. (-7.20%) and Assicurazioni Generali S.p.A. (-1.59%).

The Global Nonlife Insurance Index (AMBGNL) closed at 886.66 (+2.17%). Leading the AMBGNL were XL Capital (+61.38%) and Affirmative Insurance Holdings Inc. (+10.00%). Trailing the AMBGNL were Kingsway Financial Services (-7.94%) and Fidelity National Financial (-4.17%).

The Global Life Insurance Index (AMBGL) closed at 534.57 (-0.70%). Leading the AMBGL were Genworth Financial (+10.67%) and Conseco (+10.12%). Trailing the AMBGL were Triple-S Management Corp. (-7.04%) and China Insurance International Holdings (-4.15%).

The U.S. Property/Casualty Index (AMBUPC) closed at 911.16 (+3.30%). Leading the AMBUPC were XL Capital (+61.38%) and Affirmative Insurance Holdings Inc. (+10.00%). Trailing the AMBUPC were Fidelity National Financial (-4.17%) and Donegal Group (-1.63%).

The U.S. Multi-Line Insurance Index (AMBUML) closed at 131.25 (+4.80%). Leading the AMBUML were Horace Mann Educators (+6.94%) and American National Insurance (+6.09%). Trailing the AMBUML were American Financial Group (-0.81%) and Atlantic American Corp. (0.00%).

The U.S. Life Insurance Index (AMBUL) closed at 507.57 (-0.01%). Leading the AMBUL were Genworth Financial (+10.67%) and Conseco (+10.12%). Trailing the AMBUL were Principal Financial Group (-2.75%) and Sun Life Financial (-2.56%).

The U.S. Life and Health/HMO Insurance Index (AMBULH) closed at 614.73 (+0.64%). Leading the AMBULH were Genworth Financial (+10.67%) and Conseco (+10.12%). Trailing the AMBULH were Triple-S Management Corp. (-7.04%) and Principal Financial Group (-2.75%).

The U.S. Health and HMO Index (AMBUH) closed at 728.92 (+1.13%). Leading the AMBUH were Universal American (+4.70%) and Cigna (+2.97%). Trailing the AMBUH were Triple-S Management Corp. (-7.04%) and Health Net (-0.65%).

The U.S. Insurance Brokers Index (AMBUB) closed at 832.66 (+6.86%). Leading the AMBUB were Marsh & McLennan Cos. (+14.43%) and eHealth Inc. (+3.89%). Trailing the AMBUB were Brown & Brown (+1.26%) and AmTrust Financial Services Inc. (+2.11%).

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

The A.M. Best stock indexes cover 188 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.