Stockwatch

The week's winnersAllianz up 8.6%SVB up 7.2%

The week's losersGoshawk down 6.4%Culver down 6.2%Insurance stocks were swinging all over the place, with no less than eight big names seeing their shares move more than 5% either up or down over the week to Monday (19).In addition to our winners above, BRIT, Amlin and Zurich all went up.THB, over on the AIM, jumped 6.3% last week only to give it up on Tuesday this week. This followed a sale by ISIS Asset Management of 36,500 shares taking its stake to 2.86% , just below the notifiable level.Taking a quick look at reinsurers, the analysts at Commerzbank fancied the sector and picked out Swiss Re and Hannover Re particularly. The bank upgraded its stance on both stocks, forecasting only a "mild" pricing downturn until 2006.Munich Re, by contrast, was considered "not expensive" but the bank added in a note: "Munich Re's worry is its primary business. While it is commendable that action is being taken, we would prefer to assess the damage to prospects before buying."Royal & SunAlliance (R&SA) is to sell its stake in Mutual & Federal Insurance Co to its parent Old Mutual for £100m in cash.The group said the current carrying value of its 37% stake in the South African insurer was £80m. The proceeds would be used to support R&SA's core general insurance business.The group attributed the decision to sell to the weakness of the rand and the South African underwriting cycle.