London, Jan 18, 2026, 08:35 GMT — Market closed
- 3i Group shares ended Friday at 3,361 pence, rising 0.6%
- The stock surged roughly 10% the previous day following UBS data showing stronger sales at Action in France
- Investors are eyeing 3i’s Q3 performance update on Jan. 29 for the next clear signal
3i Group (III.L) shares ended Friday at 3,361 pence, rising 0.6% ahead of the weekend closure of London markets. The stock had surged 10.1% the previous day. 1
The sudden shift is significant since Action — the discount retailer leading 3i’s portfolio — shapes the majority of investor sentiment on the stock. UBS data indicated sales growth in France at Action, Reuters reported Thursday. 2
Action’s trading has stirred the most sensitivity in the French market. Even a slight move there can swiftly alter the mood around 3i’s net asset value—the portfolio valuation per share investors rely on as a benchmark.
UK stocks closed Friday with the FTSE 100 slipping 0.04%, while the FTSE 250 edged up 0.13%, Reuters reported. 3
Overseas cues are light as the next session kicks off, with Wall Street closed Monday for the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday. “Historically the middle part of January tends to be pretty choppy,” noted Bruce Zaro, managing director at Granite Wealth Management. 4
3i has a key date coming up soon. Its financial calendar lists a Q3 performance update set for Jan. 29. 5
Traders are eager for updates on Action’s winter trading and early-quarter demand, focusing especially on like-for-like sales, which exclude the impact of new store openings.
Investors will be on the lookout for any hints about valuation assumptions and how capital is being deployed—two factors that can rapidly shift sentiment in listed private equity stocks.
This latest boost stemmed from third-party data, not a company announcement. Should France falter or consumer spending weaken again, the stock could quickly lose those gains.
