April 11 (Reuters) - BlackRock ( BLK ) posted a drop in

first-quarter profit on Friday as the world's largest asset

manager took a hit from weakness in equity markets following

uncertainty around U.S. tariffs.

The company's net income came in at $1.51 billion, or $9.64

per share, for the three months to March 31, down from $1.57

billion, or $10.48 per share, a year earlier.