Apple is still the world's most valuable brand. (Image: aditza121, via Flickr / CC)

Apple has managed to maintain its position atop the list of the world’s most valuable brands, a study revealed on Tuesday.

Market research analytics house Millward Brown released its annual study Brandz, which saw the Cupertino-based company helmed by Tim Cook lead an IT-related pack of seven companies that ruled the world’s top 10 brand names.

The study found that Apple, maker of popular devices such as the iPhone, iPad and iPod, grew its value by 19 percent in 2011 to $183 billion, which makes the Apple brand name alone worth 37 percent of the company’s market capitalization.

Other tech firms that made it to the world’s top 10 brands list include IBM and Google at second and third place, respectively, as they switched positions from the previous year. Microsoft maintained its spot at fifth, whereas AT&T and Verizon settled for eighth and ninth place, respectively, and China Mobile made the cut at tenth place.

Non-tech firms that made it to the list include McDonalds at fourth, Coca Cola at sixth, followed by Marlboro in seventh place.

Facebook had the fastest rising brand value in the top 100 list of the world’s most valuable brands, increasing by 74 percent to $33.2 billion for 19th place. The Facebook IPO in May 18 saw the company valued at more than $100 billion but the figure has since dropped to $82 billion by May 21.

About Francis Rey Balolong

A coffee junkie who spends most of his time writing about the latest news on social media and mobile technology. I would definitely consider myself a nerd (in the coolest most hipster way possible). That being said, I love technology, music, writing, and all things mobile. Follow me: Google+ Twitter

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