China Mobile has leaped ahead of many multinational names to rank fifth in the annual ranking of the world's top brands by the Financial Times and Millward Brown Optimor.

The brand of the world's biggest wireless operator is valued at US$41.214 billion, an increase of five percent from last year.

At the end of the first quarter, China Mobile's subscribers topped 316 million, more than the population of the United States.

Three Chinese banks also made the top 100 list, with Industrial and Commercial Bank of China at 33rd place with US$16.46 billion. Bank of China was 38th , while China Construction Bank came in 61st.

Google topped the list at US$66.434 billion. The Financial Times called it "an outstanding example" in developing brands of enormous value both to customers and shareholders.

The internet domain name google.com was only registered by founders Sergey Brin and Larry Page in September 1997.

US conglomerate General Electric came in second at US$61.88 billion, followed by Microsoft at US$54.951 billion.

Soft drinks giant Coca Cola was fourth with a brand value of US$44.134 billion, far more than its rival Pepsi, at US$11.756 billion, which was ranked 48th.

The brand ranking is compiled based on the brand's earnings, the brand's contribution to the parent business and the brand's future prospects.