London, Feb 16, 2026, 09:28 GMT — Regular session
- 3i Group shares rise in early London trade, outperforming the FTSE 100
- Financial stocks lift European markets as investors brace for fresh data and earnings
- UK inflation and retail sales reports are the next near-term macro tests
3i Group shares were up 2.4% at 3,519 pence by 0913 GMT, lifting the FTSE 100-listed investment company’s market value to about £35.8 billion, after ending Friday at 3,436 pence. The stock opened at 3,452 pence and traded as high as 3,521 pence, with prices delayed by at least 15 minutes. (Share Prices)
The move matters because 3i is a London heavyweight in listed private assets, and its share price tends to react fast when investors adjust how they value unlisted portfolios. 3i describes itself as a private equity and infrastructure investor with a focus on Europe and North America, leaving the stock exposed both to risk sentiment and to shifting expectations on interest rates. (Reuters)
Across Europe, stocks were inching higher on Monday with banks and insurers leading gains, as investors geared up for euro zone industrial production data and a new round of earnings later this week. Analysts led by Deutsche Bank’s Jim Reid warned big sentiment swings would remain “the order of the day.” (Reuters)
In London, the FTSE 100 was up about 0.3%, while UK 10-year gilt yields were a touch lower, according to Reuters market data. (Reuters)
For 3i, that backdrop can show up quickly in the share price. Much of its portfolio is not traded on public markets, so investors end up leaning on rates, credit conditions and consumer signals when they decide what premium to pay for exposure.
That premium can move around. Net asset value, or NAV, is the yardstick investors use for what the portfolio is worth after debt; the share price can drift away from it when markets turn jumpy.
The next UK macro marker is the Office for National Statistics’ consumer price inflation report for January, due at 0700 on Feb. 18. (Office for National Statistics)
Retail sales for January follow at 0700 on Feb. 20, another read-through for consumer demand at a time when investors are trying to pin down the direction of rates. (Office for National Statistics)
But the near-term risk is straightforward: a hotter inflation print or higher yields could squeeze valuations and pull back appetite for stocks tied to long-dated cashflows, including listed private-asset vehicles. Any hint of softer trading at big portfolio companies can also widen the gap between price and NAV in a hurry.
Beyond the data, 3i’s next company-specific marker is its Action Capital Markets Seminar on March 26, where investors will look for fresh detail on portfolio performance and the outlook for the retailer. (3i)
