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Simon Watkins

After graduating from Oxford University with BA (Hons) and MA (Hons) degrees, Simon Watkins worked for several years as a Forex trader and salesman, becoming Head of Forex Institutional Sales for Credit Lyonnais, and then Director of Forex at Bank of Montreal. He then became a financial journalist, including positions as Head of Weekly Publications, Managing Editor and Chief Writer of Business Monitor International, Head of Global Fuel Oil Products for Platts, and Global Managing Editor of Research and Vice President of Renaissance Capital investment bank in Moscow. He has written extensively on the oil market and other commodities markets, Forex, equities, bonds, economics and geopolitics for many publications, including The Financial Times, Euromoney, Financial Times Capital Insights, OilPrice, NewsBase, Risk.net, and FTSE Global Markets. In addition, he has worked as an investment and risk consultant for major hedge funds in London, New York, Moscow, and Dubai, and regularly appears as an oil and financial markets expert on various international television networks, including the BBC, and Al Jazeera. Simon has also written eight best-selling books on the global financial markets and financial markets trading, all of which are available from Amazon, Apple, Kobo, Barnes & Noble, and Blackwells, among others.

Recent Articles

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Investing Articles

Is it worth me buying Lloyds shares at around 70p after a 6% dip?

| Simon Watkins

Lloyds shares have dropped 6% from their 12-month high, which may indicate a potential bargain. I took a closer look…

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Investing Articles

Investors considering a £5,500 holding in this FTSE 250 heavyweight could make £11,129 in annual dividend income over time!

| Simon Watkins

This FTSE 250 global investment manager pays one of the highest yields in any major FTSE index right now. Its…

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Investing Articles

Investors considering £10,000 of Sainsbury’s shares could one day make £2,590 a year in dividend income!

| Simon Watkins

Sainsbury’s shares deliver a yield significantly over the FTSE 100’s 3.8% average and they also look very undervalued against their…

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Investing Articles

After a 12% drop in a month, is it finally worth me buying this rare FTSE technology stock?

| Simon Watkins

A scarcity of technology shares in the FTSE 100 pushed the prices of many beyond their fair value, I think.…

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Investing Articles

After a 10% drop in this FTSE gem, investors could target £6,250 in yearly passive income from an £11,000 stake!

| Simon Watkins

This FTSE 100 financial heavyweight has a high yield that can generate serious passive income over time and it also…

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Investing Articles

BAE Systems’ share price has bounced back from Trump’s tariffs, so is there still enough value for me to buy more?

| Simon Watkins

BAE Systems’ share price fell after the US’s tariffs statement but has recovered to near a 12-month high. So, is…

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Investing Articles

This FTSE 100 hidden gem now yields a stunning 9.9% a year, so should I buy more?

| Simon Watkins

This relatively obscure FTSE 100 savings and investment giant now has a super-high yield, and its share price also looks…

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Chalkboard representation of risk versus reward on a pair of scales
Investing Articles

Near a 1-year low around 66p, is Vodafone’s share price too cheap for me to ignore?

| Simon Watkins

Vodafone’s share price is near its 12-month traded low, which means an opportunity to buy the stock on the cheap.…

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Long-term vs short-term investing concept on a staircase
Investing Articles

Down 28% in 8 months, is AstraZeneca’s share price too cheap for me to pass up right now?

| Simon Watkins

AstraZeneca’s share price has fallen a long way from its September high, but this may mean an opportunity for me…

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Investing Articles

Investors considering Legal & General shares could aim for £10,075 a year in passive income from a £5,500 stake!

| Simon Watkins

Legal & General shares deliver one of the highest yields of any major FTSE-listed firm, so investing now could generate…

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Investing Articles

Is the rare dip in this FTSE powerhouse’s share price just the right time for investors to consider buying it?

| Simon Watkins

This FTSE 100 banking giant has seen its price tumble following the US tariffs news, but could the rare dip…

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Investing Articles

After an 18% fall, is Rolls-Royce’s share price now just too cheap for me to ignore?

| Simon Watkins

Rolls-Royce’s share price was caught in the recent FTSE 100 sell-off. But now might be the time for me to…

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Investing Articles

Consider targeting £8,840 of annual passive income from 363 shares in this FTSE 100 heavyweight stock!

| Simon Watkins

Investing in high-dividend-paying stocks with the returns used to buy more of the shares can generate potentially life-changing passive income…

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Investing Articles

16% lower in 10 days, does Prudential’s share price look a compelling bargain to me?

| Simon Watkins

Prudential’s share price is down a lot from its one-year traded high, which suggests a bargain to be had. I…

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Investing Articles

Down 34%, does IAG’s share price look an unmissable bargain to me now?

| Simon Watkins

IAG’s share price had fallen a long way even before the latest market rout, but this may mean a bargain-basement…

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Investing Articles

This FTSE 100 heavyweight’s yield is forecast to rise to 8% by 2027 and it looks 60%+ undervalued to me too!

| Simon Watkins

This FTSE financial gem looks very undervalued to me and its yield is projected to rise to well over my…

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Investing Articles

Around a 1-year high, is there enough value left in Next’s share price to make it worth me buying?

| Simon Watkins

Next’s share price has risen a lot in eight months, but there could still be a lot of value left…

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Investing Articles

Investors considering HSBC shares could aim for £8,453 a year in passive income from just £5 a day!

| Simon Watkins

A relatively small daily investment in HSBC shares over several years can produce an extraordinary level of annual passive income…

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Investing Articles

Is it worth me buying more shares in this FTSE heavyweight after its big Capital Markets Day target updates?

| Simon Watkins

This FTSE firm announced updates to its key strategic targets at its recent Capital Markets day, so is it worth…

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Investing Articles

GSK’s share price looks a steal to me anywhere below £43.29, and here’s why

| Simon Watkins

GSK’s share price has fallen a long way from its one-year high, which has only increased the major undervaluation I'd…

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Investing Articles

With BP’s huge Iraq oil deal formally approved, will its share price soar?

| Simon Watkins

Could BP’s share price be set to reverse its decline of the past year with a huge new oil deal…

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Investing Articles

This FTSE 100 insurer’s 6.8% dividend yield is forecast to keep rising. Is it time to add it to my passive income portfolio?

| Simon Watkins

This top-tier FTSE stock raised its dividend 86% after terrific 2024 results, which means its very high yield can now…

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Long-term vs short-term investing concept on a staircase
Investing Articles

Down 44% from its 12-month high, is this FTSE 250 fast-food favourite an irresistible bargain to me now?

| Simon Watkins

This FTSE 250 food retailer has tumbled this year, so its share price may be seriously undervalued. To find out…

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Investing Articles

Taylor Wimpey yields 8.4%, but its share price is down 33%, so should I buy the stock?

| Simon Watkins

Taylor Wimpey’s share price has dropped significantly from its one-year traded high, but perhaps a change in the housing market…

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Investing Articles

A 6.2% yield but down 10%! Is it time for me to buy this FTSE broadcaster on the dip?

| Simon Watkins

This FTSE media firm is down significantly from its 12-month July high, but this might mean there's a bargain-buying opportunity…

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Investing Articles

Is Shell’s bargain-basement share price set for take-off after its key 25 March strategy reset?

| Simon Watkins

Despite a recent bounce, Shell’s share price still looks very undervalued to me, but it may be about to jump…

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Passive income text with pin graph chart on business table
Investing Articles

A 9.2% yield but down 9% despite a strong 2024, is it time for me to buy more of this passive income superstar?

| Simon Watkins

This top-tier financial stock has an extremely high yield that can generate life-changing passive income over time from a much…

Read more »

Person holding magnifying glass over important document, reading the small print
Investing Articles

Up 47% from its 12-month low, is there any value left in Lloyds’ share price?

| Simon Watkins

Lloyds’ share price has risen substantially over the past year, but it may still have significant value left in it.…

Read more »

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Investing Articles

Is BAE Systems’ share price set to soar after historic German vote paves the way for huge pan-European defence fund?

| Simon Watkins

I feel BAE Systems’ share price could go a lot higher following a recent landmark vote to boost European defence…

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Investing Articles

Forecast earnings growth of 74% a year and a 9.4% yield, this FTSE 100 gem also looks very undervalued to me!

| Simon Watkins

This FTSE 100 financial sector star looks set for stunning earnings growth that I think could drive its share price…

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Investing Articles

Down 20% since February despite excellent 2024 results, is IAG’s share price set to soar again?

| Simon Watkins

IAG’s share price tumbled recently on factors that look speculative to me, so a bargain might be in view. To…

Read more »

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Investing Articles

This re-energised FTSE 250 ultra-high-yield star looks packed with value to me now!

| Simon Watkins

A big reorganisation is under way at this FTSE 250 firm, which is already seeing good results. It also delivers…

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Middle-aged white man wearing glasses, staring into space over the top of his laptop in a coffee shop
Investing Articles

A 6.4% yield but up 25% from last April, are Aviva shares worth me buying now?

| Simon Watkins

Aviva shares are trading near a seven-year high and although their yield has fallen it's still good. So should I…

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Investing Articles

At around £8 now, Rolls-Royce’s share price looks cheap to me anywhere under £12.42

| Simon Watkins

Rolls-Royce’s share price has soared over the year, but there could still be a lot of value left in it.…

Read more »

Long-term vs short-term investing concept on a staircase
Investing Articles

Down 37% from May, does Glencore’s near-£3 share price look cheap to me?

| Simon Watkins

Glencore’s share price has tumbled from its one-year traded high, which suggests there may be good value in it. I…

Read more »

Passive income text with pin graph chart on business table
Investing Articles

£11,000 in savings? Here’s how investors could use that to target an annual passive income of £12,892 over time!

| Simon Watkins

Money put into high-dividend-paying shares with the returns used to buy more of them can generate potentially life-changing passive income.

Read more »

A pastel colored growing graph with rising rocket.
Investing Articles

Forecast earnings growth of 17% a year but down 12%, is now the time for me to buy this heavyweight FTSE stock?

| Simon Watkins

This FTSE medical technology stock has strong earnings growth projections, posted impressive 2024 results, and looks very undervalued to me.

Read more »

Hand of person putting wood cube block with word VALUE on wooden table
Investing Articles

Up 85% from its 1-year low with earnings forecast to grow 11% annually. How much value is left in this FTSE 100 star?

| Simon Watkins

This FTSE 100 stock’s price has risen a long way from its 12-month low, but I think there could still…

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Investing Articles

Down 9% from August but with 18% annual projected earnings growth, should I buy this FTSE 250 defence gem?

| Simon Watkins

This FTSE 250 defence stock is projected to see its earnings rise dramatically in the next three years, so is…

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Investing Articles

Is BP’s share price set to soar after it announces a strategic reset back to more oil and gas production?

| Simon Watkins

BP’s major shift in strategy should enable it to achieve very high earnings growth which should power its share price…

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