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Largest Companies in the World

by: Bespoke Investment Group August 26, 2008 | about stocks: AAPL / BHP / BP / BRK.A / BRK.B / CHL / CICHF.PK / CSCO / CVX / GE / GOOG / GZPFY.PK / HBC.A / IBM / JNJ / MSFT / NVS / PBR / PG / PTR / RDS.A / RHHBY.PK / RTP / T / TM / TOT / WMT / XOM    

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Below we highlight the 30 largest companies in the World by market cap ($).  As shown, Exxon Mobil (XOM) is the top dog by about $70 billion.  Exxon is trailed by another energy company, Petrochina (PTR), then General Electric (GE) and Microsoft (MSFT). 

Eleven of the top 30 are based in the United States.  The Energy sector has the largest representation at 8, followed by Technology at 5.  Only 3 companies in the top 30 are up in 2008 -- Wal-Mart (WMT), IBM (IBM) and Johnson & Johnson (JNJ).  And Apple (AAPL) and Google (GOOG) followers will be happy to see them ranked 25th and 26th in the world.

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This article has 8 comments:

  •  
    Aug 26 08:22 PM
    It's interesting to not see Citigroup and Bank of America listed among the top firms by market capitalization - when they are listed in the top 10 of the 2007 Forbes Global 2000 -- goes to show the effects of the current financial crisis. Interesting to see HSBC and the Chinese Banks not affected to nearly the degree as BofA and Citi.

    Also interesting to see that almost all the firms are down year to date except Wal-Mart and J&J. (would expect to see a higher percentage of larger firms, which are expected to be more "safe" than smaller firms, holding their own in a down market).
    Reply
  •  
    Aug 27 10:26 AM
    Wal-Mart won't let the unions kill them the way they destroyed the auto industry and education in this country.
    Reply
  •  
    Aug 27 12:27 PM
    Interesting that so many are Chinese... And Gazprom... Hmm.. Still trades OTC...... jegan
    Reply
  •  
    Aug 27 01:14 PM
    To User 218405:

    You must be in management. Very even sided comment.
    Reply
  •  
    Aug 27 03:10 PM
    I, am a chrysler worker here in Canada,cannot talk about the U.S , but I would have to agree with user 218405. A lot of my co-workers and good friends are still waiting for a recall. To conclude dc1 I am not in management, I work in the painting shop.Sorry but the next move from chrysler won t be a recall but to send more workers home indefinitely. I know the economy is bad but over the years,good and bad,the union did not help that sector. They helped me short term but long term it s a different story. A lot of my friends agrre with me but too afraid to voice their opinion,that tells you a lot about the union isn t it?
    Reply
  •  
    Aug 27 09:39 PM
    Take a look at HSBC Holdings in Hong Kong With a Mkt. Cap of 1.45T
    Reply
  •  
    Aug 31 04:55 PM
    User 218405 and user 138602, everything can be overdone.
    It's not just unions, but also management that can be excessive and seriously hurt the bottom line with tremendously bloated salaries and perks. The Golden Mean of the ancient Greeks, nothing in excess, is what we have to follow even now. Companies need to act ethically, workers too. So do we as consumers need to think of others.
    When we're buying our cheaper goods from China, we are all supporting an immoral, criminal regime and acting irresponsibly towards U.S. and Canadian workers. When North American executive is making many millions while his/her workers are getting $8.00 (give or take a buck) an hour, s/he is being immoral--although perhaps not acting illegally. Society (we family members) need to teach our children to think about what's responsible and correct--not how can I take financial advantage of the people whom I work with. We need to stop pointing the finger at the other people, but develop a sense of fair play in ourselves, our colleagues and families. In the long run much more good for the company and the individuals involved is accomplished that way.
    Reply
  •  
    Sep 22 10:14 AM
    Please Note"Altho Gazprom [OGZPY.PK] is listed...it owns much of Gazprom Neft {GZPFY.PK] the symbol; listed above.. a mix up"Nevertheless Gazprom Neft is beeing "programed"t... be world's largest O& G developer...especially in the Arctic...Shtockman...S... I

    And the bargain of your life in O&G...
    "The production of energy is the moving force of world economic progress"V.Putin

    Dangers of capital loss are no more than anywhere else..gain potential worth it...i beleive..good luck investorsI
    Reply
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