The Globe and Mail reports in its Thursday edition that BlackRock surpassed Wall Street profit expectations and attracted $205-billion in total inflows in the third quarter, sending the world's largest asset manager's shares up as much as 5 per cent in trading on Wednesday (all figures U.S.). A Reuters dispatch to The Globe says chief executive Larry Fink credited the continuing strength in the benchmark U.S. stock market index, the Standard & Poor's 500, for the company's ability to trounce analysts' expectations for revenue and profit growth during the just-ended third quarter. BlackRock posted a 38-per-cent gain in earnings per share and reported that revenues grew to $7.8-billion, well above consensus forecasts of $7.5-billion. "Market fundamentals are strong and well supported, with higher margins and earnings momentum catalyzed by new technology," Mr. Fink said in a statement. When markets opened for trading on Wednesday morning with major indexes in negative territory, BlackRock was trading 0.8 per cent higher. That marks a turnaround for BlackRock, whose shares have failed to keep pace with the broader market this year amid fears that growing investor caution might curb earnings or revenue growth.