Google ranked most valuable brand

Google was crowned the world's most valuable brand by a research firm that found technology firms dominate when it comes to how much a name is worth in today's markets.

Google, IBM, Apple and Microsoft topped global stalwarts Coca-Cola, McDonald's, and Marlboro in a Top Ten brand value list packed with seven technology companies.

Google's brand was worth more than $114 billion, a 14 per cent climb from 2009, according to the annual Millward Brown BrandZ Top 100 Most Valuable Global Brands report.

US technology titan IBM saw its "brand value" surge 30 per cent to $86 billion while the worth of Apple's name climbed 32 per cent to $83 billion, according to the report.

Factors taken into consideration in the ranking include customer loyalty and opinions regarding brands and how they influence earnings.

Microsoft ranked fourth with its brand valued at slightly more than $76 billion, just ahead of the nearly $68 billion that Coca-Cola's brand was said to be worth.