World's Most Reputable Companies

Earlier we featured the world's largest companies (25 Largest Companies of the World), now the Economist brings us the world's most reputable companies.

From the Economist, ``FERRERO, an Italian chocolate-maker, has come out top in an annual survey of the world's most reputable companies. Based on perceptions of the companies in their home markets, the Reputation Institute, a research firm, has asked the public to rate the world's 600 largest firms according to trust, admiration and respect, good feeling and overall esteem. Despite the economic turmoil, respect for business is still generally quite high. But some sectors have suffered. Banks and other financial institutions, which commanded reasonable repect in years gone by, have slipped alarmingly, though they still do better than tobacco companies"

Of the 15, the US holds 4, Asia has 4 (Japan-2, Singapore-1, India-1), Europe has 5 (Spain-2, Italy-1, Sweden-1, France-1) and Latin America has 2 (both from Brazil).