People have been expecting some consolidation in the asset management industry for a while now. If we do see some deals, what are the chances that BlackRock will be involved? Pretty good, according to Reuters. BlackRock Chief Executive Laurence Fink told the news service that he's eager to grow the firm's reach among individual investors. An area in which it needs to diversify. He may well buy a mutual fund company. He's also keen on adding more retail bond exposure.

Fink told analysts, "Our strategy team is overwhelmed with the amount of institutions that are approaching us in terms of opportunities and in terms of acquisitions for BlackRock or some form of mergers." Some think Bank of America will sell its Columbia Asset Management mutual fund company. 

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