Wal-Mart remains top US traded company

Retailing giant Wal-Mart retained its number one rank among the US's largest publicly traded companies for the third year in 2003, with sales of almost $259bn (€209bn).

Fortune's annual ranking, to be published in the magazine's April edition, is based on the companies' sales figures as reported in financial statements for 2003.

Although Wal-Mart had the highest sales, other businesses are more profitable.

Oil company Exxon Mobil was first in the profitability stakes, with $21.5bn (€17.4bn) profits.

In comparison Wal-Mart profits were $9.05bn (€7.3bn).

Carmakers GM and Ford came in third and fourth respectively, with turnovers of $196bn (€158bn) and $164bn (€132bn).

General Electric remained in fifth position with sales of $134bn (€108bn).

Other top 10 components were Oil refiner ChevronTexaco who moved up a spot to number six, while fellow refiner ConocoPhillips, leaped five places to number seven.

Banking group Citigroup was eighth, followed by IBM and insurance group American International Group.