Meritz Fire & Marine Insurance Leads Monday’s AMBG as Global Insurance Index Declines 1.06%

The AMBG closed Monday, Aug. 30, at 757.45 (-1.06%). Of the 15 A.M. Best stock indexes, one rose and 14 declined. Leading A.M. Best's Global Insurance Composite Index (AMBG) were Meritz Fire & Marine Insurance (+6.04%) and Hyundai Marine & Fire Insurance Co. Ltd. (+5.17%). Trailing the list of global insurance stocks were National Security Group (-9.81%) and Universal American (-6.07%).

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) +2.01%

European Insurance Index (AMBEUR) -0.48%

Global Non-Life Insurance Index (AMBGNL) -0.58%

Global Reinsurance Index (AMBGR) -0.82%

Global Multi-Line Insurance Index (AMBGML) -1.04%

Global Composite Index (AMBG) -1.06%

U.S. Property/Casualty Insurance Index (AMBUPC) -1.28%

Global Insurance Brokers Index (AMBGB) -1.39%

U.S. Insurance Brokers Index (AMBUB) -1.49%

Global Life Insurance Index (AMBGL) -1.59%

U.S. Insurance Index (AMBUS) -1.74%

U.S. Health and HMO Insurance Index (AMBUH) -2.14%

U.S. Life and Health/HMO Insurance Index (AMBULH) -2.17%

U.S. Life Insurance Index (AMBUL) -2.19%

U.S. Multi-Line Insurance Index (AMBUML) -2.88%

The U.S. Insurance Index (AMBUS) closed at 748.22 (-1.74%). Leading the AMBUS were First Acceptance Corp. (+1.74%) and Symetra Life Insurance (+1.63%). Trailing the AMBUS were National Security Group (-9.81%) and Universal American (-6.07%).

The European Insurance Index (AMBEUR) closed at 728.87 (-0.48%). Leading the AMBEUR were Euler Hermes (+3.52%) and April Group S.A. (+3.19%). Trailing the AMBEUR were Scor S.E. (-1.89%) and Axa S.A. (-1.76%).

The Asia/Pacific Insurance Index (AMBAP) closed at 1018.86 (+2.01%). Leading the AMBAP were Meritz Fire & Marine Insurance (+6.04%) and Hyundai Marine & Fire Insurance Co. Ltd. (+5.17%). Trailing the AMBAP were Qatar General Ins & Re Co. (-2.73%) and Austbrokers Holdings (-2.55%).

The Global Reinsurance Index (AMBGR) closed at 931.49 (-0.82%). Leading the AMBGR were Euler Hermes (+3.52%) and Korean Reinsurance Co. (+1.90%). Trailing the AMBGR were Flagstone Reinsurance Holdings (-2.90%) and Maiden Holdings Ltd. (-2.82%).

The Global Broker Index (AMBGB) closed at 984.10 (-1.39%). Leading the AMBGB were April Group S.A. (+3.19%) and Advance Create Co. (+1.86%). Trailing the AMBGB were Austbrokers Holdings (-2.55%) and CNinsure Inc. (-2.40%).

The Global Multi-Line Insurance Index (AMBGML) closed at 495.32 (-1.04%). Leading the AMBGML were First Acceptance Corp. (+1.74%) and Hannover Rueckversicherungs AG (+1.23%). Trailing the AMBGML were Delphi Financial Group (-4.42%) and Hartford Financial Services Group (-3.59%).

The Global Nonlife Insurance Index (AMBGNL) closed at 1077.04 (-0.58%). Leading the AMBGNL were Meritz Fire & Marine Insurance (+6.04%) and Hyundai Marine & Fire Insurance Co. Ltd. (+5.17%). Trailing the AMBGNL were National Security Group (-9.81%) and Presidential Life Corp. (-5.26%).

The Global Life Insurance Index (AMBGL) closed at 708.33 (-1.59%). Leading the AMBGL were Symetra Life Insurance (+1.63%) and Pekin Life Insurance Co. (+1.05%). Trailing the AMBGL were Universal American (-6.07%) and Genworth Financial (-4.94%).

The U.S. Property/Casualty Index (AMBUPC) closed at 1142.46 (-1.28%). Leading the AMBUPC were First Acceptance Corp. (+1.74%) and First American Financial Corp. (+1.04%). Trailing the AMBUPC were National Security Group (-9.81%) and Meadowbrook Insurance Group (-5.17%).

The U.S. Multi-Line Insurance Index (AMBUML) closed at 176.37 (-2.88%). Leading the AMBUML were Atlantic American Corp. (-1.61%) and Unitrin (-2.05%). Trailing the AMBUML were Delphi Financial Group (-4.42%) and Hartford Financial Services Group (-3.59%).

The U.S. Life Insurance Index (AMBUL) closed at 688.14 (-2.19%). Leading the AMBUL were Symetra Life Insurance (+1.63%) and Pekin Life Insurance Co. (+1.05%). Trailing the AMBUL were Presidential Life Corp. (-5.26%) and Genworth Financial (-4.94%).

The U.S. Life and Health/HMO Insurance Index (AMBULH) closed at 783.82 (-2.17%). Leading the AMBULH were Symetra Life Insurance (+1.63%) and Pekin Life Insurance Co. (+1.05%). Trailing the AMBULH were Universal American (-6.07%) and Presidential Life Corp. (-5.26%).

The U.S. Health and HMO Index (AMBUH) closed at 893.82 (-2.14%). Leading the AMBUH were HealthSpring (-0.73%) and UnitedHealth Group (-1.42%). Trailing the AMBUH were Universal American (-6.07%) and Centene Corp. (-4.62%).

The U.S. Insurance Brokers Index (AMBUB) closed at 896.67 (-1.49%). Leading the AMBUB were InsWeb (0.00%) and Willis Group Holdings (-0.65%). Trailing the AMBUB were AmTrust Financial Services Inc. (-2.24%) and Aon (-2.10%).

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

The A.M. Best stock indexes cover 196 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.