RIL, Infosys among 4 Indian firms in Global Dow index

Four Indian companies -- Mukesh Ambani-led Reliance Industries, IT bellwether Infosys, telecom major Bharti Airtel and steel giant Tata Steel -- have been included in a new global stock index of 150 firms, The Global Dow, launched on Wednesday by index provider Dow Jones Indexes. Other companies in The Global Dow include world's largest steel maker ArcelorMittal, financial services giant Citigroup, technology firm Apple, American retailer Wal-Mart Stores, search engine major Google and Japanese bellwether Sony. The Global Dow would measure the performance of 150 stocks of companies that are established global leaders as well as those poised for future global leadership. "The turmoil of recent weeks has highlighted, among other things, how the global economy has converged, and the continuing rise to prominence of emerging countries." "The Global Dow will recognise smaller, vibrant companies in emerging markets and in promising new sectors as the new corporate forerunners alongside their more established peers," said Managing Editor of The Wall Street Journal and Editor-in-Chief of Dow Jones & Company Robert Thomson in a statement. The components of the index were selected by editors of Dow Jones & Company based on parameters like the companies' size, reputation and importance in the global economy. According to the statement, the largest three components by float-adjusted market capitalisation in The Global Dow are American oil giant Exxon Mobil Corp., FMCG major Procter & Gamble Co and diversified conglomerate General Electric Co.