London, Feb 12, 2026, 09:35 GMT — Regular session
- 3i shares edged higher in early London trade as investors weighed a weaker UK growth print.
- Rate expectations are back in focus for UK financials, including listed private equity groups.
- 3i has an Action-focused investor event later this quarter.
3i Group (III) shares rose 0.4% to 3,355 pence by 0920 GMT, after opening firmer and then easing back. The stock last closed at 3,343p. (Share Prices)
The move matters because UK rate bets have started to drive intra-day positioning again, and 3i sits in the overlap between financials and consumer-facing assets. When investors shift their view on where rates settle, they tend to re-price private-asset values and funding costs at the same time.
Britain’s economy grew 0.1% in the fourth quarter of 2025, missing forecasts for 0.2%, official figures showed on Thursday. Luke Bartholomew, deputy chief economist at Aberdeen, said there were “tentative signs” sentiment improved after November’s budget, but added: “recent political uncertainty may see that sentiment bounce reverse.” (Reuters)
The Bank of England’s Bank Rate is 3.75% and the next decision is due on March 19. Investors will be watching whether softer growth keeps pressure on the central bank to cut again, even with inflation still above its 2% target. (Bank of England)
The broader backdrop has been supportive. The FTSE 100 closed at a record high on Wednesday as housebuilders and energy stocks rallied, though some wealth managers slid on worries that new AI tools could squeeze parts of their business. (Reuters)
3i’s most recent company update was its Jan. 29 quarterly statement, when it said net asset value (NAV) — the portfolio value per share — rose to 3,017 pence at Dec. 31. It reported that Action, a Dutch non-food discounter, generated €16.0 billion of net sales and €2.367 billion of operating EBITDA (earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation) in 2025, and said the new year “started well” for like-for-like sales — a measure that strips out store openings. Chief Executive Simon Borrows said Action “continued its impressive growth trajectory”, while 3i flagged gross cash of £995 million and gearing of 1%. (3i)
That leaves traders watching the same few dials: the pace of consumer spending in Europe, how quickly rates come down, and whether listed markets keep assigning rich multiples to private assets when the macro turns messy.
But 3i can still get hit from both sides. A slip in Action’s momentum, or a broader pullback in risk appetite that knocks down valuation benchmarks, would feed through to sentiment on the stock.
Next up is 3i’s Action Capital Markets Seminar webcast on March 26, where investors will look for fresh detail on trading and expansion plans. (3i)
