Asia-Pacific clients account for around 8 per cent of the firm's total assets under management as at the end of 2013. This is down from more than 10 per cent in 2010 and 2011. The company has been overhauling its Asia business in the past year, which included reorganising its senior management ranks in Australia. At the close of 2013, the BlackRock recorded a 63 per cent rise in net inflows for its Asia ex-Japan retail business compared to the previous year.

In January, the fund firm appointed Oisin Crawley as head of research in the Asian fundamental equity team; Crawley is based in Hong Kong and reports to Andrew Swan, head of Asian fundamental equity.

To view a recent commentary by BlackRock on financial market trends, see here.