Assets under management in the United States' 300 biggest money managers grew by 16.9 per cent in 2006 to US$31.1 trillion, according an annual survey by an investment magazine.
Last year's growth rate was nearly double that of 2005 and marked a leap of two-thirds from five years ago, according to the survey by New York's Institutional Investor magazine.
For the third year in a row Barclays Global Investors (BGI) topped the list with assets of US$1.81 trillion under management.
"Our business was strong in 2006, with net new asset growth of approximately US$68 billion," BGI chief executive Blake Grossman said.
BGI manages $41 billion on behalf of its Australian clients.
State Street Global Advisors came in as the second largest manager with US$1.74 trillion under management.
The firm attracted more money - US$307.2 billion - than any other fund in the ranking except New York-based BlackRock, which came from 16th place to fifth in the latest survey.
The rush up the list was in part due to its acquisition of Merrill Lynch Investment Managers last September.
The smallest firm on the list, New York hedge fund manager Eton Park, reported assets of US$6.3 billion, an entry hurdle that is US$1.1 billion higher than last year.
