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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

Down 37% but with 47% forecast earnings growth and $1bn buyback announced, does Glencore’s share price look cheap to me?

| Simon Watkins

Glencore’s share price has dropped over the year on concerns about China’s economic growth and US tariffs, but its earnings…

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Investing Articles

Down 5% despite good Q1 results, is now the time for investors to consider Sainsbury’s shares?

| Simon Watkins

Supermarket giant Sainsbury’s released solid Q1 results on 1 July, but is down 5% from its one-year traded high, so…

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Investing Articles

Here’s how investors could target £5,174 a year in passive income from £5,000 in savings invested in this FTSE 100 gem…

| Simon Watkins

This often overlooked FTSE 100 savings and investment giant has an ultra-high yield of 8.4%, which can generate enormous passive…

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Investing Articles

This FTSE 100 dividend gem now yields a stunning 8.6% a year, so should I buy more?

| Simon Watkins

This very-high-yielding FTSE 100 financial services titan can generate huge dividend income over time, especially if the power of dividend…

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Investing Articles

Is Shell’s share price a bargain after a 9% fall?

| Simon Watkins

Shell’s share price is down, leaving the stock looking even more undervalued to me, especially given its strong earnings growth…

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Investing Articles

Down 8% to under £19, is BAE Systems’ share price a bargain?

| Simon Watkins

BAE Systems’ share price has recently lost ground, but NATO's pledged a huge increase in defence spending from which the…

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Investing Articles

An 8.4% yield and down 33%, is Taylor Wimpey’s share price seriously cheap now?

| Simon Watkins

Taylor Wimpey’s share price has fallen a long way as uncertainty plagues the housing market. However, things may be taking…

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Investing Articles

46% undervalued with a 6.8% forecast dividend yield, should I buy more of this overlooked FTSE gem now?

| Simon Watkins

This FTSE 100 financial services giant looks deeply under its ‘fair value’ to me and has a 6%+ dividend yield…

Read more »

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Investing Articles

Do the rewards outweigh the risks in Lloyds share price?

| Simon Watkins

Lloyds share price has risen considerably over the past year, but significant value may remain. That said, there are some…

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Investing Articles

44% under ‘fair value’ and 16% annual earnings growth forecast, should I buy more of this 6.8%-yielding passive income gem?

| Simon Watkins

This FTSE 100 heavyweight has paid a high dividend for years that can generate huge passive income, and it looks…

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Investing Articles

At around £9.70, is Rolls-Royce’s share price close to its ‘fair value’ yet?

| Simon Watkins

Rolls-Royce’s share price has risen hugely in recent years, which brings the risk that it could be entering overvalued territory.…

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Investing Articles

Down 29% despite strong full-year results and 32% forecast annual growth, this FTSE 250 nanotech firm looks a hidden gem to me

| Simon Watkins

This FTSE 250 world-leader in ultra-high-tech products for use in multiple sectors is forecast to see huge earnings growth and…

Read more »

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Investing Articles

I bought 1,256 Aviva shares 3 years ago. Here’s how much dividend and price profit I’ve made since then…

| Simon Watkins

In 2022, I added another £5,000 of Aviva shares to my holding in the financial giant and since then I've…

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Investing Articles

Down 7% from March, are shares in this FTSE star financial stock at a bargain-basement price?

| Simon Watkins

This FTSE 100 financial gem has fallen in price recently, but this could signal a huge bargain to be had.…

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National Grid engineers at a substation
Investing Articles

Is it worth me buying National Grid shares at just under £11?

| Simon Watkins

National Grid shares are close to their post-rights issue high, but there could still be value remaining in the stock.…

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Investing Articles

Up 81% from its 1-year low, has Burberry’s share price rebound left it seriously overvalued?

| Simon Watkins

Burberry’s share price has strengthened considerably since it issued profit warnings in Q1 fiscal year 2024/25, but has it now…

Read more »

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

I bought 4,545 shares in this FTSE 100 dividend gem in 2020. Here’s how much passive income I’ve had since…

| Simon Watkins

I bought shares in this FTSE 100 financial giant in 2020 based on high passive income potential and major share…

Read more »

Front view of aircraft in flight.
Investing Articles

Down 15% from February, is IAG’s share price a prime short-term risk/long-term reward play?

| Simon Watkins

IAG’s share price has fallen on a combination of short-term factors, leaving its depressed share price looking like a bargain…

Read more »

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Investing Articles

Is it time for me to buy this FTSE 100 investment darling after its strong 2024/25 results?

| Simon Watkins

This FTSE 100 favourite comprises nearly 50 businesses making safety products in the health and environment sectors, but is there…

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Investing Articles

Is Vodafone’s share price set to surge on new VodafoneThree’s £11bn investment plan?

| Simon Watkins

Vodafone’s share price has been kept in check on uncertainty over its merger with rival network Three, but with this…

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Investing Articles

The curious case of this FTSE 250 star’s falling share price…

| Simon Watkins

This FTSE 250 fast-food retailer seemingly keeps posting strong results, but its share price continues to fall. So what's happening…

Read more »

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Investing Articles

A 7.3% yield but down 22% from September, is it time for me to buy more of an overlooked FTSE gem?

| Simon Watkins

This FTSE 100 commodities giant has been hit by concerns over Chinese growth and US tariffs. But are both overdone,…

Read more »

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

Down 8% from its one-year high, is Unilever’s share price too cheap for me to pass up?

| Simon Watkins

Heavyweight FTSE 100 conglomerate Unilever has seen its share price slide 8% in recent months. But does this mean it's…

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Investing Articles

Is there any value left in Tesco’s near-12-month-high share price after its Q1 trading update?

| Simon Watkins

Tesco’s share price is trading around a one-year high after the 12 June release of its Q1 trading update, so…

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Investing Articles

Is this FTSE 100 passive income gem’s share price set to soar after huge new partnership deal?

| Simon Watkins

This often-overlooked FTSE 100 financial star has signed a massive new cooperation deal, which could usher in enormous extra revenues…

Read more »

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Investing Articles

Under £14 now, Persimmon’s share price is trading at less than half its fair value by my reckoning

| Simon Watkins

Persimmon’s share price fell a lot over the past year, but I think a new home-building initiative and improved macroeconomic…

Read more »

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Investing Articles

Is this FTSE 100 pharma gem now a brilliant bargain?

| Simon Watkins

This FTSE 100 pharmaceutical giant has been hit by fears of US tariffs and litigation over a key product, but…

Read more »

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Investing Articles

I bought 3,048 shares in this FTSE 250 high-yielder in 2023. Here’s how much dividend income I’ve had since…

| Simon Watkins

This FTSE 250 investment manager was demoted from the FTSE 100 in 2023 and I bought it for two key…

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Investing Articles

At a bargain-basement valuation now, is AstraZeneca’s share price impossible for me to ignore?

| Simon Watkins

AstraZeneca’s share price has fallen a lot from its September high, but this could mean a tremendous opportunity for me…

Read more »

Jumbo jet preparing to take off on a runway at sunset
Investing Articles

Down 53% on poor results, is now a great time for investors to consider this FTSE airline stock?

| Simon Watkins

This FTSE airline stock has plummeted over the last year, not helped by recent results. But is now exactly the…

Read more »

Businessman using pen drawing line for increasing arrow from 2024 to 2025
Investing Articles

Down 24%, will new Caspian Sea deals kickstart a BP share price rally?

| Simon Watkins

BP’s share price has been hit by lower oil prices and its previous renewable energy focus, but could huge new…

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

Should I buy more BAE Systems shares at just over £19?

| Simon Watkins

BAE Systems shares soared after Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022, but I think there's still a lot more value left…

Read more »

A pastel colored growing graph with rising rocket.
Investing Articles

Here’s what £17,000 invested 1 year ago in this FTSE 100 passive income gem is worth now…

| Simon Watkins

This often-overlooked FTSE 100 savings and retirement giant pays one of the highest yields in the index, which can generate…

Read more »

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

Are Lloyds shares worth investors considering around a 10-year price high?

| Simon Watkins

Lloyds shares have risen 43% over the year, driven mainly by an ongoing programme of aggressive share buybacks. So are…

Read more »

A pastel colored growing graph with rising rocket.
Investing Articles

£17,000 in savings? Here’s how investors could target £8,453 of annual passive income from this FTSE 100 heavyweight!

| Simon Watkins

Shares in this FTSE 100 stock have a much higher dividend yield than the index average and can generate potentially…

Read more »

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

Despite hitting a near-14-year high, this FTSE 250 defence superstar still looks 32% under its ‘fair value’ to me!

| Simon Watkins

Shares in this FTSE 250 world leader in several hi-tech defence sectors are trading near a 14-year high. But I…

Read more »

Side of boat fuelled by gas to liquids, advertising Shell GTL Fuel
Investing Articles

Down 15% from its year high, is Shell’s share price too cheap for me to pass up?

| Simon Watkins

Shell’s share price has simply tracked the trading pattern of the benchmark oil price in recent months, but I think…

Read more »

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

Here’s what £11,000 invested 5 years ago in Legal & General shares is worth now…

| Simon Watkins

Legal & General shares remain among the highest dividend-yielders in any FTSE index, and analysts forecast their yield and price…

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Middle-aged white man pulling an aggrieved face while looking at a screen
Investing Articles

Despite strong results and solid earnings growth forecasts, this FTSE high-flyer looks overvalued to me

| Simon Watkins

This much-fancied FTSE 100 firm posted good H1 2025 results recently, which pushed its share price higher, but it now…

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Businessman using pen drawing line for increasing arrow from 2024 to 2025
Investing Articles

Trading near a 12-year high, is Barclays’ share price rally only just getting started?

| Simon Watkins

Barclays’ share price has soared in recent years, which may discourage some investors from considering buying the stock. But I…

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