Samsung Tops Sony in Global Brands List

Samsung and HSBC are among the biggest winners in the latest global brands ranking compiled by Interbrand and Business Week magazine. Meanwhile, brand values for Sony, Microsoft, Hewlett Packard, Morgan Stanley, and Ford have fallen since last year.

The highest rated brand overall is Coca Cola, with McDonald's at number eight and Pepsi at 23. Microsoft's brand value has fallen 2% since last year, but the company remains in the number two slot. Other technology companies saw rises, with Intel up 6% to number 5, Nokia up 10% to number 6, and Dell up 15% to number 21. Hewlett Packard's value fell by 10%, leaving it at number 13.

Korean electronics maker Samsung (number 20) has achieved the biggest gain of any Global 100 brand over the past five years, with a 186% surge. Its value grew 19% this year and, for the first time, it managed to surpass rival Sony, now at number 28 in the list.

American Express is the top financial brand, rising 5% in value to number 14. HSBC, one of the biggest winners, saw its value rise by 20%, taking it to 29 in the chart, while Morgan Stanley fell by 15% to number 33.

Big car brands also score well, with Toyota at number nine (up 10%), Mercedes at 11 (down 6%), BMW at 16 (up 8%), and Honda at number 19 (up 6%). Ford is at number 22 after a drop in brand value of 9%.

Interbrand based its brand values on the net value of earnings that the brand is expected to generate for the time frame from July 2004 to June 2005. To be included in the list, a brand had to be valued at more than $2.1 billion, and had to be truly global - generating significant earnings in global markets.

Interbrand's website is at www.Interbrand.com . Business Week is online at www.businessweek.com . Its August issue (available from today) contains a full report on the Top 100 Global Brands.

All articles 2006-23 written and edited by Mel Crowther and/or Nick Thomas, 2024- by Nick Thomas, unless otherwise stated.