Best Brands (Again)

Apple and Google have held firm at the top of Interbrand's

'best global brands' report for the sixth consecutive year.

The report values brands based on multiple criteria such

as the financial performance of the brands, their role in

purchase decisions and their competitive strength, among

other variables.

Apple retains the top spot and becomes the first brand to

reach a valuation of $200bn. Google’s brand value increased

by 10% to $155.5m, and Amazon, which announced it will

increase wages for staff in the UK and the US, saw 56%

growth to shoot it into third place, clocking in at $100.7m.

Meanwhile, Facebook, which is dealing with a data leak,

saw its value drop by 6% to #9. It is valued at $45m.

The five top growing brands were Amazon, Netflix (45%),

Gucci (30%), Salesforce.com (23%) and Louis Vuitton (23%).

Charles Trevail, global chief executive of Interbrand, said:

"A decade after the global financial crisis, the brands that

are growing fastest are those that intuitively understand their

customers and make brave iconic moves that delight and

deliver in new ways."