Apple shines

Apple has overtaken Google as the world’s most valuable brand, thanks to the success of the iPad and the iPhone, according to the BrandZ Top 100 ranking. The re port, provided yesterday to the Financial Times, estimates the value of Apple’s brand at more than $153 billion — up more than eightfold since 2006. Apple’s market cap last week was $319.4 bil lion, while Google’s was $172.4 billion.

China rates

Treasury Secretary Timothy Geithner will urge China to allow higher interest rates when he meets with Chinese leaders this week, as the US extends its push for a stronger yuan. Geithner will say China should relax financial controls, give foreign banks and in surers more access and make it easier for inves tors to buy Chinese finan cial assets.

Jurors’ duty

Jurors in the insider- trading trial of Galleon Group co-founder Raj Rajaratnam are scheduled to reconvene today after finishing a second week of deliberations without reaching a verdict. The jurors restarted their de liberations May 4 after one juror had to be re placed by an alternate be cause of unspecified medical reasons.