World Business (A Special Report): Rankings --- The Global Giants: Annual survey shows U.S. Firms have gained ground
The bull market in American stocks has given the U.S. a higher profile in the rankings of the world's largest companies and financial institutions.</br></br>Based on stock-market value, 44 of the world's 100 largest companies this year are American, up from 39 last year. Though Nippon Telegraph & Telephone Corp. holds the No. 1 spot for the third year in a row, the number of Japanese representatives fell to 27 from 37 last year, reflecting in a large part the weak Tokyo stock market.</br></br>General Electric Co., at No. 3, remains the largest U.S. company. It's followed by Exxon Corp. and AT&T Corp., which each climbed two spots, and Coca-Cola Co., which jumped seven places.</br></br>Among companies making big moves in the rankings, no group outdid U.S. technology stocks. Intel Corp. jumped to No. 19 from No. 55, while Microsoft Corp. climbed 23 slots to No. 20. Hewlett-Packard Co. rocketed to No. 30 from No. 81.</br></br>Most Japanese companies fell in this year's rankings. Toyota Motor Corp. slipped three places, to No. 7; Mitsubishi Bank Ltd., five places, to No. 10; and Dai-Ichi Kangyo Bank Ltd., six spots, to No. 18.