The number two slot went to last year’s winner Orkla, while Telenor came in third. The last time Hydro topped the rankings was in 2004, since which time the company has consistently numbered among the top three in the Norwegian list.

In the European Top 150 list, Italy’s Telecom came first, while Hydro moved up from last year’s 30th position to a joint 13th placing.

The survey is sent out each year to European financial journalists, analysts and investors, and the results are published in the international and national trade press.

Each year Hallvarsson & Halvarsson rank nearly 700 European websites in 22 different countries, making available for clients more than 300 examples of best practice.

First and foremost, the agency measures how the sites communicate financial information. They additionally focus on areas such as governance, social responsibility, media, general company information and interactive services. Content and technology are also weighted.