boohoo Group PLC dips as MPs call for garment trade watchdog to police labour

boohoo Group PLC () shed 3% to 318.4p before close as MPs called for a watchdog to police labour abuse in the domestic and international supply chains working for UK fashion retailers.

In a letter to the Secretary of State for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy, the Environmental Audit Committee said the government should explore the introduction of a Garment Trade Adjudicator.

The online fast-fashion retailer has been under fire since poor labour practices were uncovered at a Leicester supplier last summer and was recently pressured by the Committee to link bonuses for senior executives to ESG goals.

2.45pm: Royal Mail inches up on the back of plans to trial Sunday deliveries

() inched up 1% to 501.45p after announcing plans to trial Sunday deliveries.

The parcels and letters deliverer said a number of retailers are participating in the trial, carried out at a time of changing shopping habits.

Several other couriers already make Sunday deliveries, while it would not be the first time Royal Mail has tested the water on Sunday deliveries; it gave the idea a whirl back in 2014 within the M25 orbital motorway area but elected not to switch to a seven days a week operation.

1.45pm: Premier African Minerals shines after confirming exclusive prospecting order from Zimbabwean government

() surged 17% to 0.29p in the afternoon after receiving formal grant of an exclusive prospecting order (EPO) covering its Zulu Lithium and Tantalum claims.

The miner said that Zulu, located in Zimbabwe, remains a significant deposit.

“Premier expects to provide details in regard to further developments associated with Zulu and full details of the terms and conditions associated with the grant of the EPO in the near future,” said George Roach, chief executive, in a release.

12.55pm: Burberry in fashion after upgrading full-year expectations

() was the top riser in the FTSE 100, jumping 7% to 2,122p in the early afternoon after posting an unscheduled trading update.

The luxury fashion powerhouse said revenue and adjusted operating profit for the year to March 27 are expected to be ahead of consensus as trading rebounds.

Full-year group revenue is now forecast to decline between 10% and 11%, with adjusted operating margin to be in the range of 15.5% to 16.5%.

11.55am: Playtech drops after expressing caution about recovery

() shed 5% to 469.6p at midday after expressing caution about retail recovery as its major markets will remain in lockdown into the second quarter.

The gambling software developer said 2021 had a good start considering the ongoing restrictions.

In the year to December 31, revenue tumbled 25% to €1bn, while adjusted underlying earnings (EBITDA) was down 32% to €253mln.

10.45am:  moves higher after promise of strategic review 

PLC () added 4% to 33.83p in the late morning after chief executive Rita-Rose Gagné announced a strategic review.

The property owner, which posted a full-year loss of £1.73bn due to write-downs of £1.44bn, plans further disposals to strengthen the balance sheet, managing refinancing and sharpening its operations to maximise income.

“We will then focus on realising the quality of our destinations to drive the business forward. We are currently working on a thorough strategic and organisational review that will map out a route to future growth to transform the business in the context of what will remain a tough economic and structural backdrop,” Gagné revealed.

9.45am: Hollywood Bowl a touch lower after proposing placing to raise £30mln

PLC () shed 4% to 239p in mid-morning after proposing a placing to raise £30mln.

The ten-pin bowling operator is launching the cash call to invest in new centres, resume its planned capital expenditure programme in existing venues and to strengthen the balance sheet.

The placing price will be decided after completing the bookbuild process.

Meanwhile, Holdings PLC () was down 6% to 4,301.9p after…