BlackRock is the world largest asset manager, with US$10 trillion in assets under management as of January 2022. Is a global investment management corporation headquartered in New York City, United States. The company was founded in 1988.

BlackRock offers a wide range of investment management services to institutional and individual investors worldwide, including mutual funds, exchange-traded funds (ETFs), alternative investments, and separately managed accounts. The company also provides risk management, advisory, and technological services to its clients.

The company's investment philosophy is based on a rigorous risk management process that aims to provide long-term returns for its clients while minimizing risk. BlackRock has a diverse range of clients including pension funds, governments, insurance companies, and individual investors.

In addition to its investment management services, BlackRock is also known for its active engagement with companies on environmental, social, and governance (ESG) issues. The company has been a vocal advocate for sustainable investing and has integrated ESG considerations into its investment process.

BlackRock has a significant global presence, with operations in over 30 countries and more than 16,000 employees worldwide. The company is listed on the New York Stock Exchange and is a component of the S&P 500 Index.

As of 2023, BlackRock's top clients are primarily institutional investors, including:

1. Pension funds: BlackRock manages assets for some of the largest pension funds in the world, including the California Public Employees' Retirement System (CalPERS), the Canada Pension Plan Investment Board, and the Japan Pension Investment Fund.

2. Sovereign wealth funds: BlackRock provides investment management services to several sovereign wealth funds, such as the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority and the Government Pension Fund of Norway.

3. Insurance companies: BlackRock manages assets for some of the world's largest insurance companies, including Allianz and AXA.

4. Asset managers: BlackRock provides investment management services to other asset managers, such as Fidelity and Invesco.

5. Governments: BlackRock provides investment management services to governments around the world, including the United States and the United Kingdom.

6. Endowments and foundations: BlackRock manages assets for several universities and charitable foundations, including the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation and the Ford Foundation.

It's worth noting that BlackRock also serves individual investors through its retail and iShares businesses, which offer mutual funds and ETFs to individual investors. However, the company's largest clients are institutional investors.

BlackRock are a giant in the EFT market. BlackRock is one of the largest players in the ETF (Exchange-Traded Fund) market. In fact, BlackRock's iShares ETFs are the largest ETF family in the world, with over $2 trillion in assets under management as of my knowledge cutoff date of September 2021.

ETFs are investment funds that trade on stock exchanges like individual stocks. They are designed to track the performance of a particular index, such as the S&P 500, and offer investors a low-cost and convenient way to gain exposure to a broad range of stocks or other assets.

BlackRock's iShares ETFs cover a wide range of asset classes, including equities, fixed income, commodities, and real estate, among others. The company offers ETFs that track major indexes such as the S&P 500 and the MSCI World Index, as well as more specialized ETFs that target specific sectors or investment themes.

BlackRock's dominance in the ETF market has been driven in part by the company's focus on innovation and product development. BlackRock has been a leader in developing new types of ETFs, such as smart beta ETFs and actively managed ETFs, which have attracted investor interest and helped to fuel the growth of the industry.

Overall, BlackRock's position as a giant in the ETF market has given the company significant influence in the investment industry, as well as a powerful tool for managing assets on behalf of its clients.

BlackRock's decisions influence both the stock market and prices around the world.

BlackRock's investment decisions do have the potential to influence both the stock market and prices around the world. This is because BlackRock is one of the largest asset managers in the world, with over $9 trillion in assets under management, and the company's investment decisions can have a ripple effect throughout the global financial system.

When BlackRock buys or sells large quantities of a stock, it can potentially impact the price of that stock, especially if the stock is less liquid and there are fewer buyers and sellers in the market. Additionally, if BlackRock takes a significant stake in a company, it can signal to other investors that the company is attractive, which may lead to increased demand for the stock.

In addition to its influence on individual stocks, BlackRock's investment decisions can also have an impact on broader market trends and investor sentiment. As a large institutional investor, BlackRock's actions can signal to the market what it believes are the best investment opportunities, which can influence other investors' decisions and contribute to market movements.

Overall, while BlackRock's decisions are not the sole determinant of market trends or prices around the world, the company's size and influence in the investment management industry make its actions an important factor to consider for investors and market watchers alike. As one of the world's largest asset managers, BlackRock does have significant influence on companies listed on stock exchanges around the world. This influence comes from BlackRock's large ownership stakes in many companies, as well as the company's engagement and voting activities as a shareholder.

BlackRock's investment philosophy is based on a long-term approach to investing, which means that the company tends to hold positions in companies for extended periods of time. As a result, BlackRock often has significant ownership stakes in many of the companies it invests in, which gives the company a voice in important corporate decisions such as board appointments, executive compensation, and mergers and acquisitions.

In addition to its ownership stakes, BlackRock is also known for its active engagement with companies on environmental, social, and governance (ESG) issues. The company regularly engages with companies on these issues, advocating for sustainable business practices and urging companies to take actions that are in the best interests of long-term investors.

As a large institutional investor, BlackRock also has significant voting power at shareholder meetings. The company's votes can be influential in determining the outcome of important corporate decisions, such as the election of board members or the approval of major mergers and acquisitions.