NEC owner Blackstone Group, the world’s largest manager of alternative assets such as private equity and real estate, reported a 4% rise in first-quarter distributable earnings on Thursday, driven by a surge in management fees, even as its funds took a hit in the coronavirus-induced downturn. Blackstone, whose shares were up 5.3% at $48.78 in early afternoon, posted a 16% rise in management and advisory fee revenue thanks to its continued fundraising. That offset a 32% drop in re...