Stocks Rise Ahead of Busy PMI Release Day

Investors eye UK retail sales, government borrowing data, and global 'flash' PMI reports.

Published on Feb. 28, 2026

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Stocks in London are set to open higher on Friday, ahead of the release of UK retail sales and government borrowing data. 'Flash' PMI reports from major economies are also due, with the surveys expected to point to a marginally faster pace of expansion in the eurozone and a marginally slower one in the UK compared to January.

Why it matters

PMI data provides a timely snapshot of economic conditions and helps investors gauge the strength of various sectors. The UK retail sales and borrowing figures will also offer insights into the health of the British economy.

The details

According to Pepperstone's Michael Brown, the UK's public borrowing data will likely show a monthly budget surplus, but this is due to higher tax receipts in January rather than any sudden fiscal discipline. Meanwhile, the US president has withdrawn support for a UK-Mauritius deal over the Chagos Islands, as the UK has not granted approval for the US to use military bases there for a potential strike on Iran.

  • The 'flash' PMI releases are due on Friday.
  • January's UK retail sales and public borrowing stats are also set to be released on Friday.

The players

Pepperstone

A financial services firm that provided commentary on the upcoming economic data releases.

Donald Trump

The former US president who has withdrawn support for a UK-Mauritius deal over the Chagos Islands.

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What they’re saying

“'Flash' PMIs are due from pretty much every major economy, with the surveys set to point to a marginally faster pace of expansion in the eurozone, and a marginally slower one here in the UK, compared to that seen in January...Elsewhere, we receive January's UK retail sales and public borrowing stats this morning,”

— Michael Brown, Analyst (Pepperstone)

“The latter will almost certainly show a monthly budget surplus, though this is simply due to January seeing higher tax receipts than other months due to the self-assessment tax deadline, and not some sort of sudden and miraculous commitment to fiscal discipline from those in Downing Street.”

— Michael Brown, Analyst (Pepperstone)

What’s next

Investors will closely monitor the upcoming PMI releases and UK economic data for insights into the strength of the global and British economies.

The takeaway

The release of key economic indicators, including PMI surveys and UK retail sales and borrowing figures, will provide important signals about the state of the economy and help guide investment decisions.