FT 500 2005
Resources
GE tops FT Global 500 list on oil’s fall
General Electric ended the year back in its position at the top of the FT Global 500 list of the world’s biggest public companies, thanks to the fall in oil prices since the summer.
Fair shares?
The FT Global 500 list is a snapshot of capitalism’s Darwinian struggle, in which the fittest companies thrive.
Bad days at the office
With their PR machines, companies used to be able to control most of what was said about them. The rapid rise of employee weblogs has put paid to that.
Top dogs, fat cats
Justifying the pay packets CEOs receive - and how can we measure their worth.
Over a barrel
The post-Enron backlash bloodied some of the world’s biggest businesses in 2004.
Related content and features
Rankings
Methodology
Corporate fortunes
Who is up, who is down and who is holding steady - this annual Financial Times list ranks the performance of the top 500 companies around the world. General Electric holds on at number one, oil companies are rising to the top and more Russian and Saudi companies are making their mark.
Rankings
FT 500 2005 index of tables
The top 500 companies ranked globally and by sector based on market capital. Showing newcomers and departures, rises and falls from the list. Regional lists of the top 500 companies in Europe, UK, US and Japan and web-only data are included.
Standing out
Movers and shakers
Despite Iraq and surging oil prices, the world’s top companies are getting richer. But who tops the pile, which industries are thriving and is America’s corporate dominance on the wane?
Business language
The bull market
Sizing up the world’s top 20 companies for waffle and cant is a telling business. Banks write compassionate cheques that they cannot cash but at least the oil barons tell it like it is.
