Coca-Cola Named Best Brand

COCA-COLA has topped a list of the world's "Best Global Brands" for an astonishing TWELFTH YEAR in a row. The soft drinks giant beat IBM, MICROSOFT and GOOGLE in a survey based on sales, brand value and public perception. APPLE, the world's biggest company when based purely on stock market value, only managed 8th. But this was a huge jump from 17th a year ago. NOKIA and NINTENDO both plunged down the rankings, compiled by consultants INTERBRAND. HSBC was the best-ranked British firm at 32nd while crunch-defying luxury brand BURBERRY broke into the top 100 at 90th. Interbrand chief executive Jez Frampton said: "Uncertainty is the status quo so today's brands need to be quick and nimble. "Consistency, relevance and commitment are imperative if a brand is to keep pace in our rapidly changing world." Incredibly TOYOTA is still the best-placed car brand despite a catalogue of devastating recalls last year. The Japanese giant came 11th. Apple's success reflects the boom in technology which also saw Amazon, Google and Samsung as three of the five biggest risers. Taiwan's HTC - dubbed "Asia's Apple" - came in at 98th.