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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

Investing Articles

Greggs share price: is the market mispricing this UK favourite?

| Simon Watkins

Sales are rising, expansion is intact, and JPMorgan is bullish -- so is the beaten down Greggs share price now…

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Investing Articles

Around £41 a share, this FTSE 100 passive income star now has a forecast dividend yield of 7%!

| Simon Watkins

This FTSE high-yield stock already has a near-6% payout, but analysts forecast a rise to 7%, which could generate major…

Read more »

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Investing Articles

Down 20% but with 15% annual earnings growth forecast, how high can BT’s share price go?

| Simon Watkins

Analysts expect BT’s profits to rise nearly 15% a year, yet the share price is down 19% over the year.…

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Stacks of coins
Investing Articles

Here’s how I’m targeting £10,872 in annual dividend income from £20,000 in this FTSE 100 income share

| Simon Watkins

This FTSE 100 income share is already paying me handsomely -- but the long term income potential here could be…

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Investing Articles

This standout FTSE income gem now has a dividend yield of 7%!

| Simon Watkins

This FTSE financial giant is growing profits, customers and assets while trading at low valuations and offering a big yield…

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Investing Articles

Up 117% from its 2025 low, here’s why Barclays’ share price could soar again this year

| Simon Watkins

Barclays’ share price surged in 2025, but strong earnings growth following its recent business strategic shift could mean huge gains…

Read more »

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Investing Articles

Is this FTSE 250 high‑tech defence leader on the brink of stunning multi‑year growth?

| Simon Watkins

This little‑noticed FTSE 250 high‑tech defence firm is entering a rapid expansion phase, with new contracts and soaring earnings forecasts…

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Investing Articles

I’m targeting £23,441 in annual dividend income from my £20,000 in this FTSE 100 high-yield star!

| Simon Watkins

This FTSE 100 high‑yield gem is expected to deliver major earnings growth, strengthening its long‑term income appeal and boosting its…

Read more »

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Investing Articles

This crackerjack FTSE dividend stock now has a forecast yield of 8.9%!

| Simon Watkins

This FTSE 100 income play offers a yield some investors won’t believe -- and the maths reveals a compounding story…

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Investing Articles

My £20,000 holding in this FTSE star could make me £12,406 a year in passive income over time!

| Simon Watkins

This FTSE 100 high-yield gem is forecast to see strong earnings growth that should power its share price and passive…

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Investing Articles

Down 9%, here’s why BP’s share price could soar in 2026

| Simon Watkins

Analysts forecast strong growth for BP based on its strategic reset, and a dividend yield rising to 6.2%, leaving its…

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Investing Articles

Is Rolls-Royce’s share price gearing up for another big jump in 2026?

| Simon Watkins

Rolls Royce’s share price has rocketed over the past two years, but with earnings momentum still building, there may be…

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Investing Articles

I’m targeting £42,949 in dividend income for my retirement from £20,000 in this 10.2%-yielding FTSE 250 gem!

| Simon Watkins

This FTSE 250 income play yielding over 10% is powering my long term retirement plan. Here’s why I think it…

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Investing Articles

Down 15%, here’s what the markets are missing about BAE Systems’ share price and how high it could go in 2026…

| Simon Watkins

BAE Systems’ results, order book and guidance point to accelerating growth -- yet the market still prices in a slowdown.…

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Investing Articles

Around £1, why does the Lloyds share price still looks cheap to me up to £1.43?

| Simon Watkins

Lloyds has been dogged by negative publicity surrounding motor insurance mis-selling, but has this left its share price seriously undervalued…

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Investing Articles

How I’m targeting £12,959 a year in dividend income from £20,000 in this FTSE 100 dividend gem

| Simon Watkins

This financial giant delivers one of the highest dividend yields in the FTSE 100, with analysts forecasting this will rise…

Read more »

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

This superb passive income star now has a dividend yield of 10.4%!

| Simon Watkins

This standout passive income gem now generates an annual dividend return higher than the ‘magic’ 10% figure, and consensus forecasts…

Read more »

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Investing Articles

With 55% earnings growth forecast, here’s where Vodafone’s share price ‘should’ be trading…

| Simon Watkins

Consensus forecasts point to 55% annual earnings growth to 2028. With a strategic shift ongoing, how undervalued is Vodafone’s share…

Read more »

A pastel colored growing graph with rising rocket.
Investing Articles

Here’s how I’m targeting £12,959 a year in my retirement from £20,000 in this ultra-high yielding FTSE 100 income share…

| Simon Watkins

Analysts forecast this high-yield FTSE 100 income share will deliver rising dividends and capital gains, making it a powerful long-term…

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Investing Articles

Tesco’s share price: is boring brilliant?

| Simon Watkins

Tesco delivers steady profits, dividends, and market share gains. So is its share price undervaluing the resilience of Britain’s biggest…

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A pastel colored growing graph with rising rocket.
Investing Articles

With its 16% dividend yield, is it time for me to buy this FTSE 250 passive income star?

| Simon Watkins

Ithaca Energy’s 16% dividend yield looks irresistible -- but with tax headwinds still blowing strong, can this FTSE 250 passive…

Read more »

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Investing Articles

Under £27 now, Shell’s share price looks a huge bargain – here’s why

| Simon Watkins

Shell’s share price is at a major discount to its peers, but Simon Watkins believes it won’t do so for…

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Growth Shares

Down 60% since 2022: can Diageo’s share price ever stage a turnaround?

| Simon Watkins

Diageo’s share price has plunged, but with its premium brands, strong cash flows, and a solid dividend yield, can it…

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DIVIDEND YIELD text written on a notebook with chart
Investing Articles

This superb FTSE dividend gem has a forecast yield of 7.5%!

| Simon Watkins

This FTSE insurer has a high dividend yield that is projected to rise and looks extremely undervalued -- a rare…

Read more »

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

44% under ‘fair value’, should investors consider this overlooked FTSE 100 defence gem right now?

| Simon Watkins

This FTSE 100 defence and aerospace stock trades 44% below fair value, yet analysts’ forecasts are for 7.8% annual earnings…

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A pastel colored growing graph with rising rocket.
Investing Articles

Investors can target £22,491 in passive income from £20,000 in this FTSE dividend gem

| Simon Watkins

This ultra-high-yielding FTSE gem’s dividend is forecast to rise even higher in the coming years, driving high passive income flows…

Read more »

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Investing Articles

After Qatar cuts its stake in Sainsbury’s, is its share price now a great short-term risk/long-term reward play?

| Simon Watkins

Sainsbury’s share price slid after Qatar cut its stake, but with a new activist investor at the helm, does it…

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Investing Articles

I’m targeting £11,363 a year in retirement from £20,000 in Aviva shares!

| Simon Watkins

£20,000 invested in Aviva shares could make me £11,363 in annual retirement income from this FTSE 100 passive income investment…

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Investing Articles

Down 20% but 15% annual earnings growth forecast — is BT’s share price a bargain or a bust going into 2026?

| Simon Watkins

BT’s share price has fallen a long way since July, but analysts forecast strong earnings growth in the coming years,…

Read more »

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

Why this FTSE banking gem may hold a lot more value than we think

| Simon Watkins

This FTSE banking giant may be hiding more value than investors expect -- with rising dividends, buybacks, and growth potential…

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A pastel colored growing graph with rising rocket.
Investing Articles

I’ve made this much from 417 shares in this FTSE 100 dividend income gem since 2020…

| Simon Watkins

My £10k investment in this FTSE 100 heavyweight has grown hugely since 2020. With dividends up and the shares still…

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Investing Articles

Is easyJet a steal at its near-£5 share price after strong 2025 results?

| Simon Watkins

easyJet’s share price has slipped 16% from its peak -- but is this turbulence masking a hidden value gap investors…

Read more »

Businessman hand stacking money coins with virtual percentage icons
Investing Articles

Here’s how investors can target £7,570 a year in dividend income from £20,000 in this FTSE 250 media gem

| Simon Watkins

This FTSE 250 star looks very undervalued, but with a 6%+ dividend yield investors could lock in high passive income…

Read more »

Abstract bull climbing indicators on stock chart
Investing Articles

Barclays’ share price soars 63% this year, but is it still a bargain?

| Simon Watkins

Barclays’ stock has surged in 2025, yet valuation models suggest huge potential may remain. So, is this FTSE 100 star…

Read more »

Arrow symbol glowing amid black arrow symbols on black background.
Investing Articles

Prudential’s sub-£11 share price looks a bargain to me, but how cheap is it?

| Simon Watkins

Prudential’s share price has risen a lot over the year, but Simon Watkins believes there’s still a big gap between…

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Stacks of coins
Investing Articles

Here’s what I’ve made from 266 shares in this FTSE 100 passive income star since 2020…

| Simon Watkins

My passive income portfolio is geared to maximising my dividend income with little effort from me, and this FTSE 100…

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Artillery rocket system aimed to the sky and soldiers at sunset.
Investing Articles

BAE Systems’ share price has plunged 23%, but here’s why I’m buying more now  

| Simon Watkins

The BAE Systems' share price has nosedived since October, yet Simon Watkins sees record orders and defence spend driving long-term…

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

Here’s how investors can target £7,227 a year in dividend income from 4,405 BP shares

| Simon Watkins

BP shares may look like just another oil play, but a strong yield and sharply rising earnings make them a…

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Man thinking about artificial intelligence investing algorithms
Investing Articles

I asked ChatGPT for the 3 best FTSE growth stocks, and here’s what it said…

| Simon Watkins

ChatGPT’s FTSE growth stock picks surprised me -- from miners to IT resellers. But are they real opportunities or risky…

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Businessman hand flipping wooden block cube from 2024 to 2025 on coins
Investing Articles

Here’s how another £5,000 invested in this high-yield FTSE 250 star could make me £2,969 a year in dividend income over time!

| Simon Watkins

This FTSE 250 high-yield play has consistently delivered major dividend income for me in recent years, with analysts forecasting more…

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