NEW YORK (Reuters) - BlackRock's assets hit a record high of $11.6 trillion in the fourth quarter of last year as the world's largest money manager posted a 21% profit jump, helped by fee income buoyed by stronger equity markets.

Assets managed by the New York-based company increased to $11.55 trillion from $10.01 trillion a year earlier and $11.48 trillion in the third quarter.

(Reporting by Davide Barbuscia; Editing by David Goodman)