INSURANCE

Amwest Announces Stock Buyback: Amwest Insurance Group Inc., a Woodland Hills-based insurer specializing in surety bonds, said its board has authorized repurchasing on the open market as many as 100,000 shares of its common stock, or 4.2% of the 2.37 million outstanding shares. Amwest stock on Nov. 3 hit a 52-week low of $11.125 a share, which the company noted is well below its Sept. 30 book value of $14.58 a share. The 52-week high of $14.50 occurred on Feb. 18. Amwest stock closed Tuesday at $11.50 a share, up 25 cents, in light trading on the American Stock Exchange.