China Mobile has leaped ahead of household names such as Marlboro and Wal-Mart to rank fifth in an influential annual ranking of the world's top brands.

The brand of the world's biggest wireless operator is now valued at more than $41 billion - an increase of 5 percent from last year.

At the end of the first quarter, China Mobile's subscribers topped 316 million - more than the population of the US.

Three Chinese banks also made the top 100 list, with the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China coming in 33rd, Bank of China 38th and China Construction Bank 61st.

Internet search engine Google topped the list, with a brand value of $66.4 billion. The Financial Times called Google "an outstanding example" of how to develop a brand of enormous value both to customers and shareholders.

The Internet domain name google.com was registered by founders Sergey Brin and Larry Page in September 1997.

US conglomerate General Electric came in second at $61.9 billion, followed by Microsoft at almost $55 billion.

Soft drinks giant Coca Cola was fourth with a brand value of $44.1 billion, far more than its rival Pepsi, at $11.8 billion, which was ranked 48th.

Source:佚名