Do insurers need a bailout?

By Paul R. La Monica, CNNMoney
2009-3-5 12:45:08

NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) -- If you're an insurance company hoping for a government handout, unless your name is AIG, you've been out of luck so far.

Could that soon change? Investors are growing increasingly worried about the health of the industry, particularly life insurers that have been hit hard by concerns about capital requirements and growing losses.

Insurance stocks don't get as much attention on Wall Street as the zombie banks, but they have done almost as poorly. While the KBW Bank index has plunged about 55% so far this year, the KBW Insurance Index isn't far behind, down 44%.

	Investment Basic Investment Overview Investment Approache Fundamentals Data Investment Stories www.fxj108.com	Do insurers need a bailout? By Paul R. La Monica, CNNMoney 2009-3-5 12:45:08 NEW YORK (CNNMoney.com) -- If you're an insurance company hoping for a government handout, unless your name is AIG, you've been out of luck so far. Could that soon change? Investors are growing increasingly worried about the health of the industry, particularly life insurers that have been hit hard by concerns about capital requirements and growing losses. Insurance stocks don't get as much attention on Wall Street as the zombie banks, but they have done almost as poorly. While the KBW Bank index has plunged about 55% so far this year, the KBW Insurance Index isn't far behind, down 44%.