HONG KONG: Chinese government suggestions that it may allow mainland insurance companies to invest in property could unleash billions of dollars in deals for commercial buildings and embolden developers and foreign investors who want a more active market. Property investment typically gives insurers the steady income they need to balance long-term liabilities. But Beijing wants to cool property prices, particularly in a housing sector fueled by an influx of eight million people into cities...

Technologycompanies dominatedan annual list of the world’s most powerful brands, with internet search leader Google retaining the top spot and Research in Motion’s Blackberry brand one of the fastest risers.

Research from international consulting firm Millward Brown, published Monday, put the value of Google’s brand at $86 billion US, a 30 per cent increase in its value from the previous year.

General Electric was again ranked second with a value of $71.4 billion US, followed by Microsoft at $70.89 billion US and Coca-Cola at $58.2 billion US. China Mobile ranked fifth at $57.2 billion US.

Millward Brown bases its BrandZ rankings on the financial performance of the companies and the results of interviews with consumers globally.

While the top five brands remained unchanged from a year ago, a number of technology and telecommunications companies moved up in the rankings, the company said.

IBM moved from ninth to sixth, and Apple zoomed up from 16th to seventh, with its brand value rising 123 per cent from the previous year to $55.2 billion.

Rounding out the top 10 were U.S. fast-food giant McDonald’s, Finnish cellphone maker Nokia and tobacco brand Marlboro.

Waterloo, Ont.-based Research in Motion’s Blackberry brand had the biggest year-to-year change among companies in the top 10, rising 390 per cent to $13.7 billion US, according to Millard Brown.

Blackberry, which came in at No. 51, was one of two brands with Canadian origins to make the top 100. Royal Bank of Canada was No. 34 on the list, with a brand valued at $18.99 billion US.

Technology companies and mobile phone operators accounted for 28 of the top 100 brands and accounted for more than half the total brand value growth, the report found.

But not all technology companies fared well in the rankings. U.S. phone maker Motorola’s brand dropped 30 per cent in value from the previous year, the largest drop of any brand still in the top 100. Internet search portal Yahoo and online retailer eBay also dropped in value from the previous year. Post a commentPeople have commented on this story Recommend this story People have recommended this story Story Tools: | | Text Size: | | Story comments (0) Sort: Most recent | First to last | Most recommended

- Post your comment

Note: The CBC does not necessarily endorse any of the views posted. By submitting your comments, you acknowledge that CBC has the right to reproduce, broadcast and publicize those comments or any part thereof in any manner whatsoever. Please note that comments are pre-moderated/reviewed and published according to our . Comment:Characters allowed: 2500 Post Related Internal Links «www.cbc.ca» External Links Millward Brown rankings

(Note: CBC does not endorse and is not responsible for the content of external sites - links will open in new window) People who read this also read … Consumer Headlines 00 The Bank of Canada is widely expected by economists to cut interest rates by one-half of a percentage point on Tuesday in a bid to give the economy a boost. 00 Technology companies dominated an annual list of the world’s most powerful brands, with internet search leader Google retaining the top spot and Research in Motion’s Blackberry brand one of the fastest risers. 00 U.S.-based Marvel Entertainment is bringing its pantheon of superheroes to Dubailand, the United Arab Emirates theme park poised to become the largest of its kind. 00 The United Nations secretary general says the world must urgently increase food production to ease skyrocketing prices and has pledged to set up a task force on a crisis threatening to destabilize developing nations. 00 Skype, the internet calling subsidiary of eBay Inc., is introducing its first plan for unlimited calls to overseas phones on Monday. Consumer Life Features «www.cbc.ca» «www.cbc.ca» «www.cbc.ca» «www.cbc.ca» «www.cbc.ca»

- «www.cbc.ca»
- «www.cbc.ca» «www.cbc.ca» «www.cbc.ca» «www.cbc.ca» «www.cbc.ca»

Action Insight | Written by ActionForex.com | Nov 14 07 13:59 GMT | Forex Mid-Day Technical Report Euro Firm, Sterling Pressured, Dollar Mixed Euro remains firm across the board after solid GDP data. On the other hand, Sterling is hammered on increased expectation of rate cut from BoE in early 08. Dollar remains mixed in general after weaker than expected PPI report which showed 0.1% mom, 6.1% yoy growth in Oct comparing to expectation of 0.3% mom, 6.3% yoy. Retail sales rose 0.2% in...