Tech giants retain top spot as world's most valuable brands for third year running

Apple and Google have retained their spots on Interbrand’s annual ranking of the world’s most valuable brands.

The technology industry continued to dominate in Interbrand’s 2015 edition of the Best Global Brands report, with more than half of the top ten slots being occupied by companies operating in the tech space.

The Apple brand is valued at $170 billion by the popular consultancy, while Google comes in at an estimated $120 billion, each figure representing respective increases of 43 and 12 percent.

Each valuation is calculated based on a company’s financial performance, a brand’s ability to influence customer purchases, and the extent to which it can support premium pricing.

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Microsoft replaced IBM to take the fourth position, Samsung maintained its seventh position, and Amazon leapt into tenth from the fifteenth position it held last year.

Other top brands in the top ten include; Coca-Cola, Toyota, General Electric, and McDonalds.

Making a new entry on the list is Lenovo, managing to secure the 100 position, and PayPal, which made its debut at 97 place. Nokia and Nintendo are the big names who have dropped out of the ranking.