London, Feb 10, 2026, 09:32 GMT — Regular session
- 3i Group was down around 0.8%, changing hands at 3,289 pence during early trading in London.
- The stock dropped further, building on Monday’s decline, with investors reassessing appetite for equities against shifting expectations around interest rates.
- Action’s capital markets seminar lands on March 26, next up on the company’s calendar.
3i Group shares slipped at the open Tuesday, dropping 25 pence, or 0.75%, to 3,289 pence. The stock started off at 3,329 and traded between 3,281 and 3,343 in early moves. Roughly 127,000 shares changed hands, compared to a previous close of 3,314.
That leaves the FTSE 100-listed private equity group still struggling, following Monday’s 1.16% fall that saw shares close at 3,314 pence, daily price data show.
3i draws attention partly because investors use it as a proxy for risk appetite and valuations. Its reported net asset value—the firm’s assets minus debts—tends to fluctuate as market multiples and borrowing costs shift. Many investors track the stock to gauge where private equity pricing might be headed.
Caution lingered in the background. The STOXX 600 in Europe edged close to record highs yet hardly budged, with investors eyeing a stream of mixed earnings and bracing for major U.S. data on inflation and jobs.
3i last updated investors near the end of last month. As of December 31, net asset value per share stood at 3,017 pence. Its key holding, discount chain Action, posted 2025 net sales of 16.0 billion euros, with operating EBITDA hitting 2.367 billion euros. Like-for-like sales—excluding contributions from new stores—were up 4.9% in 2025 and climbed 6.1% in Action’s first four weeks of January. Chief executive Simon Borrows called it “a good start” to the group’s closing quarter for the March-year. 3i
Political jitters and shifting rate bets have kept UK markets on edge. Both sterling and gilts swung on Monday while investors weighed the heat on Prime Minister Keir Starmer. London’s top stock index eventually found its footing.
The Action narrative isn’t straightforward. France remains problematic, with ongoing competitive heat unsettling investors; that’s been a theme. Bernstein’s William Woods, though, points to early 2026 momentum—he thinks “some of the issues in France may have started to ease,” following 3i’s most recent update. Financial Times
This week, traders are watching U.S. data—rate-cut bets could shift fast. Private asset valuations tend to climb as expected rates fall; a hawkish surprise, though, can knock them down just as quickly.
Next up for the company: Action’s capital markets seminar, which will be webcast on March 26 and appears on 3i’s financial calendar.
