Exxon loses top spot to PetroChina

PetroChina Co passed Exxon Mobil Corp on Thursday as the biggest energy company by market value for the first time since 2010.

Exxon's capitalization was $352.6 billion through Wednesday, compared with PetroChina's $352.8 billion on Thursday in Shanghai.

The Chinese company's A shares have surged about 61 percent the past year, versus Exxon's 14 percent drop. PetroChina was larger by value most recently at the close of trading on June 25, 2010, data compiled by Bloomberg show.