The position of the companies varies according to the total value of shares traded on the stock market. Only companies with 15% or more of their shares floated are included in the list, which is at its 11th edition.
The Brazilian company with the greatest stock market value, according to the British newspaper, is Petrobras, which was in the 50th position, two below its position in 2006, with a capital of US$ 105.9 billion.
The second Brazilian company in the list is mining group Vale do Rio Doce (74th, against 117th in 2006), with a stock market capital of US$ 86.1 billion.
In the third and fourth position among Brazilian organization are banks Bradesco (205th) and Itaú (208th). Bradesco remained in the same position as it was last year while Itaú climbed from the 222nd position.
Beverage company Ambev, on the other hand, climbed to the 244th position, from the 266th in 2006. The Bank of Brazil also climbed, from 362nd in 2006 to 331st this year.
The last Brazilian company on the list is Itausa, the controller of Itaú bank. The company debuted in the list, in the 487th position.