According to a list released today of world's 500 most valued brand, Brand Finance Global 500, Apple is followed by Samsung (USD 79 billion) at second place globally. In the top-ten, these two are followed by Google, Microsoft, Verizon, GE, AT&T, Amazon, Walmart and IBM.

Tata has retained its top place among Indian brands and its global ranking has also improved from 39th in 2013 to 34th now. However, the number of Indian companies on the list has declined to five from six.

Other than Tata, the global ranking of all other four Indian companies has dropped and they include SBI (347th), Airtel (381), Reliance Industries (413) and Indian Oil (474).

Tata's brand value has increased from USD 18.2 billion to USD 21.1 billion, and it has consistently improved its ranking since being placed 100th in the year 2007. The Indian company which has dropped from the list this year is ITC, which was ranked 445th in the year 2013.

According to Brand Finance, SBI's brand value has dropped from nearly USD 6 billion to USD 4 billion, while that of Airtel has marginally risen from USD 3.74 billion to USD 3.8 billion. Reliance Industries' brand value has dropped from USD 3.7 billion to USD 3.5 billion and that of IOC from USD 3.4 billion to USD 3.1 billion.

While Apple has been ranked as most valued brand, the annual study conducted by brand valuation consultancy Brand Finance said that it is Ferrari which is the "world's most powerful brand".

"The legendary Italian carmaker scores highly on a wide variety of measures on Brand Finance's Brand Strength Index, from desirability, loyalty and consumer sentiment to visual identity, online presence and employee satisfaction.

"Ferrari is one of only eleven brands (including Google, Hermes, Coca-Cola, Disney, Rolex and F1 racing rivals Red Bull) to be awarded an AAA+ brand rating and has the highest overall score," it added.However, "being a niche, luxury brand with an officially capped production, it is perhaps unsurprising that it is some way off being the world's most valuable. Its USD 4 billion brand value puts it 350th in brand value terms," Brand Finance said.

The US accounts for the maximum number of 185 brands on the list, followed by Japan (42), France (37), the UK (35), Germany (32), China (27) and Switzerland (19), among others. India is ranked 17th in this category with five companies.

In terms of total brand value of companies from a country, the US again tops with USD 294 billion, while India is ranked 18th with USD 35.7 billion (down 12 percent or about USD 5 billion from the last year).

About Apple, the study said that the technology giant also has a powerful brand, rated AAA, and its USD 105 billion brand value makes it the world's most valuable for the third year in a row.

Apple's dominance, however, is being challenged by Korean giant Samsung, ranked second on the list with an increase of USD 20 billion in its brand value.

The BRIC nations of Russia, India and in particular Brazil have fared relatively poorly, Brand Finance said.

"One Indian brand has dropped out of the table and several of those that remain have fallen further down the rankings. Tata, India's flagship brand is the exception however, climbing to 34th worldwide with a brand value of USD 21.1 billion," it added.

PTI