A.M. Best launches 15 global stock indexes.

A.M. Best has released 15 stock indexes covering publicly traded companies in sectors of the United States and global insurance industry. Companies on the list include insurers and reinsurers with interactive ratings from the A.M. Best Co., along with insurance brokers.

The indexes are compiled in real-time and distributed on major financial wires by Dow Jones Indexes. All 15 indexes begin with the letters "AMB" and are followed by letters indicating the sector they cover. The indexes also are available in real-time at www.ambest.com/stocks. The 15 indexes and their symbols include:

* A.M. Best's Global Insurance Composite Index AMBG

* A.M. Best's Global Reinsurance Index AMBGR

* A.M. Best's Global Multiline Insurance Index AMBGML

* A.M. Best's Global Nonlife Insurance Index AMBGNL

* A.M. Best's Global Life Insurance Index AMBGL

* A.M. Best's Global Insurance Brokers Index AMBGB

* A.M. Best's European Insurance Index AMBEUR

* A.M. Best's Asian/Pacific Insurance Index AMBAP

* A.M. Best's U.S. Composite Insurance Index AMBUS

* A.M. Best's U.S. Multiline Insurance Index AMBUML

* A.M. Best's U.S. Property/Casualty Insurance Index AMBUPC

* A.M. Best's U.S. Life/Health Insurance Index AMBULH

* A.M. Best's U.S. Life Insurance Index AMBUL

* A.M. Best's U.S. Health & HMO Insurance Index AMBUH

* A.M. Best's U.S. Insurance Brokers Index AMBUB

Those wishing to track the performance of publicly traded insurers can use the indexes for comparison purposes. The indexes can be followed by tracking the index symbol on any of the stock-tracking services. The indexes will also be covered regularly in A.M. Best's news publications including Best's Review.

For a video presentation explaining the new indexes, visit: www.ambest.com/video/ambindexes.

Each index is based on the aggregation of the prices of the individual publicly traded stocks, converted to U.S. dollars, and weighted for their respective free float market capitalizations. Each stock is assigned to subsidiary indexes based on the location of the exchange on which it primarily is traded, and by the company's primary business. Primary business is determined by latest year-end net premiums written. Stocks assigned to the Multi-Line Indexes have 11% or more of annual NPW generated by insurance segments other than their primary insurance business.

Weightings of underlying stocks in each segment are adjusted as needed for occasional additions and deletions due to market entry or market departure, stock issuance or repurchases, stock splits, mergers or acquisitions, and changes in status of a company's interactive Best's Rating. The value of each segment is indexed to Dec. 31, 2004 = 1,000.00. The indexes are calculated by Dow Jones Indexes using the methodology detailed at the following link: http://www.djindexes.com/mdsidx/downloads/ DJGI_Rulebook.pdf.