Google has become the world’s most valuable listed company after announcing that its global revenues rose 13% to $75bn (£52bn) last year, and the group’s tax rate fell to just 17%.The group took a record $1.9bn of revenues from its UK customers for the last three months of 2015, up 16% on 2014 – and all routed through its controversial tax structure in Ireland. But for the impact of the pound weakening against the dollar, UK revenues would have been up 20%.
http://www.theguardian.com/technology/2016/feb/02/google-overtakes-apple-as-worlds-most-valuable-listed-companyAlso see:Alphabet – owner of Google – takes top spot from Apple
Alphabet- Google’s parent company- has surpassed Apple as the world’s most valuable company after its latest earnings report.The company made a profit of $4.9bn (£3.4bn) for the fourth quarter, an increase from $4.7bn a year ago.
http://www.bbc.com/news/business-35464599Alphabet, Google’s Parent Company, Grows Briskly to Close in on Apple
Wall Street got its first glimpse of the financial details of a new conglomerate called Alphabet on Monday. Investors liked what they saw so much that the outfit formerly known as Google is poised to become the world’s most valuable company.Despite spending $3.6 billion a year on projects like self-driving cars that don’t make much money, Alphabet’s advertising business propelled the company to a strong last three months of 2015, outpacing expectations and sending the stock up in after-hours trading.
http://www.nytimes.com/2016/02/02/technology/alphabet-earnings-google.htmlWhat’s in a name? How Alphabet made Google the biggest company in the world
Silicon Valley – and Wall Street – have a new king. Alphabet, the company formerly known as Google, looks set to become the world’s largest publicly traded company on Tuesday thanks to a spike in its share price, following exceptionally good results and a decision to come clean on how its makes and spends its money.Less than a year after it stormed past Berkshire Hathaway, ExxonMobil and Microsoft on its way to the top, the company’s value has passed Apple. Tuesday will see whether it can hold on to those gains but the battle is on.
http://www.theguardian.com/technology/2016/feb/01/how-alphabet-made-google-biggest-company-in-the-world