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James Skinner

James Skinner is a finance and investment writer. He began his finance career as an FX salesperson with a city brokerage house, before moving into equity research sales with a leading private research firm. It was here that he gained his first taste of life working on a research desk. Today James is a freelance writer with Motley Fool UK. Along with covering a number of mid and large cap stocks, he also writes regularly about both the national and global economies. James holds the Investment Management Certificate, awarded by CFA UK.

Recent Articles

Investing Articles

3 gold mining stocks to buy today

| James Skinner

Gold mining stocks Polymetal (LSE: POLY), Fresnillo (LSE: FRES) and Centamin (LSE: CEY) are among the worst performers on the…

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Investing Articles

Pfizer Inc & Allergan Inc Have Fallen Out Of Love, But What Does This Mean For Astrazeneca Plc & Shire Plc?

| James Skinner

Could the split between Pfizer Inc (NYSE: PFI) and Allergan Inc (NYSE: AGN), mean that Astrazeneca Plc (LON: AZN) is…

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Investing Articles

Barclays Plc: After The Kitchen Sink, Here Come The Tea Towels, Aprons & Cutlery!

| James Skinner

Management have thrown the kitchen sink, the tea towels, the aprons and the cutlery at Barclays Plc (LON: BARC) investors,…

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Investing Articles

What Does Today’s News Mean For Card Factory Plc, Tate & Lyle Plc And Gulf Keystone Petroleum Plc?

| James Skinner

Here is my take on what today's news means for Card Factory Plc (LON: CARD), Tate & Lyle Plc (LON:…

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Investing Articles

Russian Investigation Of Mondi Plc Could Spell Trouble For Imperial Tobacco Plc & Polymetal International Plc

| James Skinner

My take on Russia's investigation of Mondi Plc (LON: MNDI) and what this could mean for Imperial Brands Plc (LON:…

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Investing Articles

Trading Losses At Credit Suisse AG: A Warning Shot For All Investors!

| James Skinner

A warning shot across the bow for investors as Credit Suisse AG (NYSE:CS) reports more losses on bond holdings.

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Investing Articles

FTSE 100: Bear Market Or Blip?

| James Skinner

My take on the FTSE 100 (INDEXFTSE:UKX) and the "bear market or blip" question.

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Investing Articles

Royal Bank Of Scotland Group Plc & Lloyds Banking Group Plc: The Good, The Bad & The Ugly!

| James Skinner

Wondering what to do about Lloyds Banking Group Plc (LON: LLOY) & Royal Bank Of Scotland Group Plc (LON: RBS)…

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Investing Articles

Legal & General Group Plc And Aviva Plc: Can They Turn It Around?

| James Skinner

For those still waiting on a turnaround from Aviva Plc (LON: AV) and Legal & General Group Plc (LON: LGEN)…

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Investing Articles

Could Heavyweights Old Mutual Plc, Standard Life Plc & St James’s Place Plc Boost Your Portfolio In 2016?

| James Skinner

My take on heavyweights Old Mutual Plc (LON:OML), Standard Life Plc (LON: SL) & St James's Place Plc (LON: STJ).

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Investing Articles

What Will Today’s News Mean For WM Morrison Supermarkets Plc And Amazon Inc?

| James Skinner

An overview of the proposed tie-up between WM Morrison Supermarkets Plc (LON: MRW) & Amazon Inc (NASDAQ:AMZN).

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Investing Articles

Standard Chartered Plc: Just How Bad Is It?

| James Skinner

Two pence more for the melting pot of opinion on Standard Chartered Plc (LON: STAN), this week's beleaguered banker.

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Investing Articles

Is The Game Up For Bovis Homes Group Plc, Barratt Developments Plc & Persimmon Plc?

| James Skinner

An important question to ask yourself about thouse builders Bovis Homes Group Plc (LON: BVS), Barratt Developments Plc (LON: BDEV)…

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Investing Articles

Saudi-Russia Oil Agreement Will Be No Panacea For BP Plc Shares

| James Skinner

BP Plc (LON: BP) shareholders beware, the Saudi Russia agreement will be no panacea.

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Investing Articles

Anglo American Plc & Rio Tinto Plc: Value Plays Or Value Traps?

| James Skinner

A tale of temptation: Rio Tinto Plc (LON: RIO) & Anglo American Plc (LON: AAL).

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Investing Articles

Barclays Plc & Deutsche Bank AG Shares: How Much Lower Can They Go?

| James Skinner

After a tumultuous week for global banking, here are some worthwhile considerations for those looking at Barclays Plc (LON: BARC)…

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Investing Articles

Vodafone Plc, TalkTalk Telecom Group Plc or Sky Plc: Which Should You Buy For 2016?

| James Skinner

My two pence for the melting pot of opinion on Vodafone Plc (LON: VOD), Sky Plc (LON: SKY) and TalkTalk…

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Investing Articles

Could Randgold Resources Ltd, Fresnillo Plc and Petropavlovsk Plc Be Among 2016’s Winners?

| James Skinner

Gold miners like Randgold Resources Ltd (LON: RRS), Fresnillo Plc (LON: FRES) and Petropavlovsk Plc (LON: POG) are rallying! Here's…

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Investing Articles

What You Really Need To Know About Lloyds Banking Group Plc Shares

| James Skinner

Here's what you really need to know if you're considering buying Lloyds Banking Group Plc (LON: LLOY) shares in 2016.

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Investing Articles

HSBC Holdings Plc & Standard Chartered Plc: What You Need To Know For 2016

| James Skinner

Some points to consider about HSBC Holdings Plc (LON: HSBA) & Standard Chartered Plc (LON: STAN) in 2016.

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Investing Articles

Astrazeneca Plc And GlaxoSmithKline Plc: Double Or Quits?

| James Skinner

After lagging the global pharma sector persistently over five years. is now time to go double or quits on GlaxoSmithKline…

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Investing Articles

Royal Dutch Shell Plc and BG Group Plc: To Be Or Not To Be?

| James Skinner

Some important points to consider before shareholders vote on Royal Dutch Shell Plc's (LON: RDSB) takeover of BG Group Plc…

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Investing Articles

Where Next For Glencore Plc, Anglo American Plc & BHP Billiton Plc?

| James Skinner

My thoughts on Glencore Plc (LON: GLEN), Anglo American Plc (LON: AAL) & BHP Billiton Plc (LON:BLT) during the months…

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Investing Articles

FTSE 100: Why 2016 Is The Year Of The Active Investor!

| James Skinner

My thoughts on what 2016 has in store for the FTSE 100 (INDEXFTSE: UKX) and why it is time to…

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Investing Articles

Shire Plc And Baxalta Inc: A Habitual Sceptic’s Perspective

| James Skinner

Everything a Shire Plc (LON: SHP) shareholder needs to know about the Baxalta Inc (NYSE: BXLT) transaction.

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Investing Articles

Tensions Between Saudi Arabia And Iran Could Boost BAE Systems Plc

| James Skinner

BAE Systems Plc (LON: BA) could benefit as increasing Middle East tensions protect defence spending in Saudi Arabia.

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Investing Articles

BP Plc And The Big Questions Around Oil Prices In 2016

| James Skinner

Here's my take on the big questions for BP Plc (LON: BP) - will oil prices mean good news or…

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Investing Articles

Tesco Plc: How Much Worse Could It Actually Get?

| James Skinner

Thinking about buying Tesco Plc (LON: TSCO) shares? How bad can it really be?

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Investing Articles

Are BT Group Plc & Sky Plc Shares Good Value?

| James Skinner

After this year's gains, do BT Group Plc (LON: BT.A) & Sky Plc (LON: SKY) shares still offer good value?

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Investing Articles

Should You Buy Barclays Plc?

| James Skinner

The winds are changing at Barclays Plc (LON: BARC), here is why.

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Investing Articles

United Utilities Group Plc & SSE Plc: What Do Recent Results Mean For Shareholders?

| James Skinner

Here is my take on what to expect from United Utilities Group Plc (LON: UU) shares and from SSE Plc…

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Investing Articles

Why I Wouldn’t Buy Imperial Tobacco Group Plc Or British American Tobacco plc

| James Skinner

Here is my view on Imperial Tobacco Group Plc (LON: IMT) shares

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Investing Articles

Where Next For Lonmin Plc?

| James Skinner

Here is my take on Lonmin Plc (LON: LMI) and the shares

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Investing Articles

Interest Rates & Inflation: Is Your Portfolio Ready?

| James Skinner

Here I explain what I will be buying, holding & selling when interest rates do begin to rise.

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Investing Articles

GlaxoSmithKline Plc: Is The Dividend Safe?

| James Skinner

Here I explain my own view on the implications of GlaxoSmithKline Plc's (LON: GSK) investor day, along with my assessment…

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Investing Articles

What To Make Of M&A Activity At London Stock Exchange Group Plc, ICAP Plc & Tullett Prebon Plc

| James Skinner

Here is what current M&A activity could mean for shareholders in London Stock Exchange Group Plc (LON: LSE), ICAP Plc…

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Investing Articles

National Grid Plc: Why I’d Disregard Talk Of The Dividend & Dump The Shares

| James Skinner

Here is what you need to know about National Grid Plc's (LON: NG) first-half results and why it may pay…

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Investing Articles

HSBC Holdings Plc: A UK-Listed Bank Really Worth Buying!

| James Skinner

Here is why I believe that HSBC Holdings Plc (LON: HSBA) is the only London bank worth buying or holding…

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Investing Articles

Why Tullow Oil Plc Is Surging Today

| James Skinner

Here is what today's news means for Tullow Oil Plc (LON: TLW) shareholders!

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Investing Articles

Where Now For Standard Chartered Plc?

| James Skinner

Wondering what to do about your Standard Chartered Plc (LON: STAN) shares? What are the bull and bear cases?

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