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Alan Oscroft

Alan is a freelance writer who began writing for The Motley Fool in the late 1990s. He has been a private investor for more 30 years, and has explored a number of strategies, settling on high-yielding blue-chip shares.

Recent Articles

British bank notes and coins
Investing Articles

The best FTSE 250 dividend shares to buy right now?

| Alan Oscroft

The FTSE 100 is often considered an index of mature income stocks, with the FTSE 250 home to growth shares.…

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Close-up of British bank notes
Investing Articles

The best FTSE 100 dividend shares to buy right now?

| Alan Oscroft

What's the best way to screen out dividend shares to find the best stocks? One way is to start with…

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White female supervisor working at an oil rig
Investing Articles

After the Tullow Oil share price crunch, should I buy again?

| Alan Oscroft

The Tullow Oil share price is way below the levels I last bought and sold at. With debt slowly reducing,…

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Smiling young man sitting in cafe and checking messages, with his laptop in front of him.
Investing Articles

Can the NatWest share price keep on climbing?

| Alan Oscroft

The NatWest share price has been on a tear so far in 2023, with full-year results for 2022 coming our…

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One English pound placed on a graph to represent an economic down turn
Investing Articles

How I pick shares for passive income in retirement

| Alan Oscroft

We all have our individual strategies for building a portfolio of passive income shares. I think the successful ones share…

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Investing Articles

Do soaring sales make Saga shares a no-brainer buy?

| Alan Oscroft

After trebling in a few months, Saga shares have rewarded investors with one of the year's better recoveries. How much…

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Young female couple boarding their plane at the airport to go on holiday.
Investing Articles

Earnings: why Wizz Air shares are falling

| Alan Oscroft

Wizz Air shares had been climbing along with the rest of the sector. But they turned downwards after the airline's…

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Young female business analyst looking at a graph chart while working from home
Investing Articles

Earnings: why IG Group Holdings shares are gaining

| Alan Oscroft

IG Group Holdings shares have started 2023 weakly. But could a positive set of first-half results mark the start of…

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Affectionate Asian senior mother and daughter using smartphone together at home, smiling joyfully
Investing Articles

With a 7% dividend, are Aviva shares a no-brainer buy now?

| Alan Oscroft

Forget trying to get rich quick. I prefer investments like high-yielding Aviva shares to target some long-term dividend income.

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Investing Articles

Will the BAE share price be among the top FTSE 100 winners in 2023?

| Alan Oscroft

BAE Systems share price gains gave investors a profitable 2022. I think we could be in for a strong decade…

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A Black father and daughter having breakfast at hotel restaurant
Investing Articles

Earnings: why Associated British Foods shares are climbing

| Alan Oscroft

Associated British Foods shares had a painful 2022. But a strong Primark-fuelled Christmas trading period has helped support its recent…

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Young Asian woman holding a cup of takeaway coffee and folders containing paperwork, on her way into the office
Investing Articles

3 things that could give Lloyds shares a boost in 2023

| Alan Oscroft

Lloyds shares have been gaining ground over the past few months. What will it take for the price to keep…

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Young black woman in a wheelchair working online from home
Investing Articles

The Rolls-Royce share price is climbing! Could I double my money?

| Alan Oscroft

The Rolls-Royce share price has had a cracking few months. Is it the start of a sustainable bull run, or…

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Middle-aged black male working at home desk
Investing Articles

These dividend shares offer today’s biggest FTSE 100 yields

| Alan Oscroft

Does it make sense to invest in the FTSE 100 shares offering the biggest dividend yields? It could be a…

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Close-up of British bank notes
Investing Articles

Can I make a million from a Stocks and Shares ISA?

| Alan Oscroft

Does making a million in a Stocks and Shares ISA seem out of reach? Well, a lot of UK investors…

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Stacks of coins
Investing Articles

The pros and cons of buying penny shares in 2023

| Alan Oscroft

A lot of penny shares took a hammering during 2022. Might 2023 be more profitable, or are the potential dangers…

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Investing Articles

The 10 best UK dividend shares for 2023?

| Alan Oscroft

With so many share prices down and dividend yields up in 2022, could 2023 be a great year for building…

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Investing Articles

My top 10 FTSE 100 shares for 2023

| Alan Oscroft

It's hard picking from all those FTSE 100 shares. Here's a selection narrowed down to just 10, which might make…

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Glowing 2023 year among normal numbers on dark black background
Investing Articles

Where will the Tesco share price go by Christmas 2023?

| Alan Oscroft

It's that time of year when we wonder where things might go in the next 12 months. Here are some…

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Businesswoman calculating finances in an office
Investing Articles

How to start a Christmas Stocks and Shares ISA

| Alan Oscroft

In the Christmas holidays, many of us think about improving our finances in the coming year. How might a Stocks…

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2023 concept with upwards-facing arrows overlaid on a hand with one finger raised, pointing up
Investing Articles

Where will the Lloyds share price go by Christmas 2023?

| Alan Oscroft

It's that time of year when we wonder where things might go in the next 12 months. Here are a…

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Fans of Warren Buffett taking his photo
Investing Articles

Middle-aged and no savings? I’d use the Warren Buffett method to build wealth

| Alan Oscroft

Warren Buffett has always been a patient investor, especially as he's getting older. That might be the most important lesson…

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

My top 3 passive income investments for 2023

| Alan Oscroft

My picks for passive income investments in 2023 are actually some of my perennial favourite stocks. But do I think…

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One English pound placed on a graph to represent an economic down turn
Investing Articles

3 reasons to buy Rolls-Royce shares in 2023

| Alan Oscroft

Does a late 2022 price rise mark a turning point for Rolls-Royce shares? We've seen a few false starts before,…

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Diverse group of friends cheering sport at bar together
Investing Articles

3 no-brainer FTSE 250 shares to buy for 2023?

| Alan Oscroft

The FTSE 250 has slumped in 2022, while the FTSE 100 has remained afloat. Does that mean some mid-cap bargain…

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Young Black man sat in front of laptop while wearing headphones
Investing Articles

3 UK shares under £1 to buy for 2023?

| Alan Oscroft

Is it wise to buy UK shares priced under £1? There are some risky cheap ones out there, but I…

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Young female business analyst looking at a graph chart while working from home
Investing Articles

3 FTSE 100 shares to buy now, after 35% falls in 2022?

| Alan Oscroft

The end of 2022 seems like a good time to assess the hardest-hit FTSE 100 shares, and to look for…

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Close-up of British bank notes
Investing Articles

3 of the safest dividend stocks on Earth

| Alan Oscroft

What makes some dividend stocks safer than others? That depends on a number of things, including our investing timescales.

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Fans of Warren Buffett taking his photo
Investing Articles

If I’d invested $100 in Berkshire Hathaway shares 40 years ago, here’s how much I’d have now!

| Alan Oscroft

Under Warren Buffett, Berkshire Hathaway shares have produced one of the most stunningly successful stock market returns of all time.

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Electric cars charging in station
Investing Articles

3 reasons to buy BP shares today

| Alan Oscroft

BP shares have benefited from rising oil prices in 2022, and the year has brought billions in cash. Is the…

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A couple celebrating moving in to a new home
Investing Articles

Does the Barratt share price fall make it a no-brainer buy now?

| Alan Oscroft

Property prices are looking a bit unsteady, and the Barratt share price has slid 45% in a year. Is it…

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

I’d buy 600 shares of this stock, for £100 in monthly passive income

| Alan Oscroft

I'm taking a close look at this progressive UK dividend stock, to help generate cash for my long-term passive income…

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Engineer Project Manager Talks With Scientist working on Computer
Investing Articles

2 growth stocks for the next 10 years and beyond

| Alan Oscroft

If I buy growth stocks, I'm not looking for quick profits. I buy with the aim of holding forever, or…

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Girl buying groceries in the supermarket with her father.
Investing Articles

Are Tesco shares a no-brainer buy for 2023?

| Alan Oscroft

Tesco shares have fallen in 2022, and they're way down from their pandemic peak. I'm trying to decide whether to…

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Young happy people looking at sparklers in their hands on New Year's Eve
Investing Articles

FTSE 100 investors might never have had it so good

| Alan Oscroft

FTSE 100 shares have given investors a scary ride in 2022, and that could continue. Here's why it might make…

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One English pound placed on a graph to represent an economic down turn
Investing Articles

Here’s how I’d invest £5,000 in dividend shares for lifelong income

| Alan Oscroft

I see so many high-yielding dividend shares today, it's hard to know which ones to buy. Here are some ways…

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Affectionate Asian senior mother and daughter using smartphone together at home, smiling joyfully
Investing Articles

3 shares to buy for a 2023 Stocks and Shares ISA?

| Alan Oscroft

There's plenty of time left to use up as much as we can of our 2022-23 Stocks and Shares ISA…

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Investing Articles

3 FTSE 100 stocks to start a new 2023 ISA?

| Alan Oscroft

With so many FTSE 100 stocks looking cheap as we head towards 2023, I reckon investors might never have had…

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Young female analyst working at her desk in the office
Investing Articles

Are Rolls-Royce shares a no-brainer buy for 2023?

| Alan Oscroft

Rolls-Royce shares have picked up since October, but they've still had a tough 12 months. Could 2023 be the year…

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Female Doctor In White Coat Having Meeting With Woman Patient In Office
Investing Articles

Why is the Scancell share price climbing?

| Alan Oscroft

The Scancell share price has started attracting attention. I take a look at what's happening at the biotech research company.

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