Companies in the IT and Communications sector were among the stars of 2011 on the stock market, and, at year end, for the first time, four IT&C companies were found in the top ten largest companies in the world. Furthermore, the manufacturer of Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL) computers and mobile phones last year struggled with oil giant Exxon Mobil (NYSE:XOM) for the title of the largest in the world and, for a few months, managed to climb on the first position. At the end of the year, however, Exxon has regained first place. Apple rise remains impressive: at the end of 2008 the manufacturer of iPhone and iPad was only ranked 54th in the top of the largest companies in the world, with a market value of 76 billion dollars. At December 31, 2011 Apple market capitalization was 377 billion dollars, five times more than three years ago. The impressive growth is due to increasing sales and profits generated by the iPhone smartphones and iPad tablets.
A strong growth last year had the computer manufacturer IBM (NYSE:IBM), which climbed to sixth place in the top, with a value of 219 billion dollars, surpassing Microsoft (NASDAQ:MSFT). The biggest surprise is Google’s climbing in the top 10. The company, which has the most used Internet search engine in the world, reached at the end of 2011 a market value of 208 billion dollars, up 41% from the end of 2010, when Google (NASDAQ:GOOG) was ranked 28th. Google’s market value increase was supported by the advance of 9% of the share price and also by the acquisitions made last year: Google bought in 2011 Motorola Mobility through a mega $12.5 billion transaction. Google has strengthened its position as the largest Internet company in the world after launching the social networking site Google Plus, a direct competitor to Facebook.
Oil sector is represented by four companies in the top 10: Exxon, PetroChina (NYSE:PTR), Royal Dutch Shell (NYSE:RDS.A) and Chevron (NYSE:CVX). Industrial & Commercial Bank of China, the world’s largest bank, ranks fifth with a market value of 228 billion dollars, and last place in the top ten is occupied by U.S. retailer Wal-Mart (NYSE:WMT), with $205 billion.
Comparing it to the top 10 at the end of 2010, 4 companies are out: BHP Billiton, the largest mining company in the world, with shares hit by lower commodity prices, oil company Petrobras in Brazil, China Construction Bank and food manufacturer Nestlé.
