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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

Stack of British pound coins falling on list of share prices
Investing Articles

Is it game over for the Cineworld share price?

| Alan Oscroft

The Cineworld share price has fallen 95% over the past five years. But the board has a rescue plan. So…

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Investing Articles

How I’d aim for £10,000 a year in passive income, from £100 per month

| Alan Oscroft

We'd all like to have a bit of passive income coming in to supplement our retirement, wouldn't we? Here's how…

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Shot of a young Black woman doing some paperwork in a modern office
Investing Articles

Is this the best time to start buying shares in years?

| Alan Oscroft

People rarely start buying shares while stock markets are falling, and we've been through a tough decade. But I think…

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Investing Articles

Here’s why I’d buy Legal & General shares to bag 7.5% dividends today

| Alan Oscroft

Legal & General shares are picking up, as the company reaches the halfway stage in its five-year cash and dividend…

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Happy young plus size woman sitting at kitchen table and watching tv series on tablet computer
Investing Articles

Should I buy Lloyds shares while they’re still under £1?

| Alan Oscroft

The banking sector might finally be back on the road to long-term health. I'm thinking of buying more Lloyds shares…

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

At under 5p, are Woodbois shares a no-brainer buy now?

| Alan Oscroft

I didn't buy Woodbois shares when they were up over 8p. Now they've fallen back, I'm wondering if I'm seeing…

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British Pennies on a Pound Note
Investing Articles

Is now a great time to start buying penny shares?

| Alan Oscroft

Are stock markets set for a rebound? If they are, there are plenty of penny shares around that might be…

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Playful senior couple in aprons dancing and smiling while preparing healthy dinner at home
Investing Articles

Are Rolls-Royce shares finally about to climb?

| Alan Oscroft

Rolls-Royce shares have been falling again. But I can't see that much has changed, and the full-year outlook still appears…

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Investing Articles

When should I sell my Scottish Mortgage shares?

| Alan Oscroft

Buying some Scottish Mortgage shares was an easy decision for me. But I've never been any good at knowing when…

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Close-up of British bank notes
Investing Articles

Is this the best time in a decade to start buying FTSE 100 dividend shares?

| Alan Oscroft

UK dividend yields are rising again. I reckon any time is a good time to start buying dividend shares. But…

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

Stocks of the week: Aviva, Antofagasta, Just Group

| Alan Oscroft

My 'stocks of the week' take in those that have caught my eye in one way or another. All three…

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Female analyst sat at desk looking at pie charts on paper
Investing Articles

Here’s how I’d invest £10,000 for the next FTSE 100 bull market

| Alan Oscroft

Is the FTSE 100 heading for a new bull market? After the past decade we've had, investors could do with…

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Investing Articles

After a 10% price jump, is this a top FTSE 100 share to buy now?

| Alan Oscroft

I'm always on the lookout for my next share to buy. But I'd taken my eye off this one after…

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Warren Buffett at a Berkshire Hathaway AGM
Investing Articles

How I’d use the Warren Buffett method to profit from the next bull market

| Alan Oscroft

How can Warren Buffett's guidance help us to pick the most profitable companies to invest in over the next couple…

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Bearded man writing on notepad in front of computer
Investing Articles

What’s happening to the Petrofac (PFC) share price?

| Alan Oscroft

The Petrofac (LON:PFC) share price has had a seriously erratic year so far. I take a look at the latest…

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

The Hurricane Energy (HUR) share price has trebled in a year. Time to buy?

| Alan Oscroft

After suffering from cheap oil for years, the Hurricane Energy (HUR) share price is on a bull run in 2022.…

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Investing Articles

Does the latest BT share price slump mean it’s time to buy?

| Alan Oscroft

Just when I thought the BT share price was set to rise after a decent set of full-year results, it's…

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Investing Articles

3 things that could send the Darktrace share price climbing

| Alan Oscroft

The Darktrace share price is picking up as we approach 2022 full-year results. But there are other issues that might…

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Happy couple showing relief at news
Investing Articles

The Aviva share price is climbing. Here’s why I’d buy more

| Alan Oscroft

After what seems like years of going nowhere, the Aviva share price is finally showing signs of life. I take…

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

3 no-brainer FTSE 250 dividend stocks to buy today

| Alan Oscroft

Investors typically turn to the FTSE 100 when looking for long-term income investments. I think the FTSE 250 has plenty…

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Investing Articles

Here’s how I’d invest £200 per month to make passive income for life

| Alan Oscroft

We'd all love to retire with some extra passive income in our pockets. My approach is to invest regularly, over…

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Cheerful young businesspeople with laptop working in office
Investing Articles

Here’s why UK lithium stocks could be set for a new surge

| Alan Oscroft

Lithium stocks have fallen from their 2022 peaks. But over the past few weeks, we've started to see renewed gains.…

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Shot of a young Black woman doing some paperwork in a modern office
Investing Articles

2 recession-resistant stocks to buy right now

| Alan Oscroft

After the pandemic slump, we're now facing a UK recession. Many are looking for recession-resistant stocks to protect their money.

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Investing Articles

How to invest in shares to help beat inflation

| Alan Oscroft

Soaring prices could well outstrip our investing returns this year. I think it's more important to find shares to beat…

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

Stock of the week: Scottish Mortgage Investment Trust

| Alan Oscroft

Scottish Mortgage Investment trust makes it as my stock of the week, despite a 30% share price fall over the…

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Happy male couple looking at a laptop screen together
Investing Articles

Is this one of the best value FTSE 100 shares to buy right now?

| Alan Oscroft

I see numerous attractive shares to buy on the UK stock market these days, and it's hard to pick the…

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Family in protective face masks in airport
Investing Articles

Should I buy Rolls-Royce shares while they’re still under £1?

| Alan Oscroft

Rolls-Royce shares have suffered setback after setback. Does the latest weakness give us an even better buying opportunity?

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

Payouts from these top dividend shares are under threat. Are they still buys?

| Alan Oscroft

Analysts have been forecasting yields of 10% and more from some of our biggest dividend shares. But cuts have already…

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Investing Articles

Here’s why I’d invest £10,000 in FTSE 100 shares right now

| Alan Oscroft

It's been a poor century so far for FTSE 100 shares, if actually stronger than it appears. But I think…

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A couple celebrating moving in to a new home
Investing Articles

As the Taylor Wimpey share price gains on rising dividends, here’s why I’d buy

| Alan Oscroft

The Taylor Wimpey share price has fallen 25% over the past 12 months. First-half results make me believe the market…

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Close-up of British bank notes
Investing Articles

FTSE 100 dividend forecasts are climbing. Here’s what I’d buy now

| Alan Oscroft

According to dividend forecasts, 2022 is shaping up to be one of the best years ever for UK income investors.

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Female analyst sat at desk looking at pie charts on paper
Investing Articles

How interest rates could affect your investments

| Alan Oscroft

Interest rates are climbing as inflation soars. And that's creating stock market uncertainty as the cost of debt rises. Here's…

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Investing Articles

What the stock market might need is a good recession

| Alan Oscroft

Is the US economy in recession? Is the UK economy destined to follow? Long-term stock market investors shouldn't really care.

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

Is this the best time ever to buy UK shares?

| Alan Oscroft

I think I'm seeing increasing signs that UK shares are undervalued right now, and 2022 could be turn out to…

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British Pennies on a Pound Note
Investing Articles

The pros and cons of buying penny shares

| Alan Oscroft

Is it wise to buy penny shares to try to strike it rich? It's easy to lose money, but I…

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Young mixed-race couple sat on the beach looking out over the sea
Investing Articles

Why did the International Consolidated Airlines (IAG) share price climb 10% in July?

| Alan Oscroft

Is the International Consolidated Airlines (IAG) share price finally set for a long-term recovery on the back of a second-quarter…

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Asian Indian male white collar worker on wheelchair having video conference with his business partners
Investing Articles

3 cheap income shares to buy in August

| Alan Oscroft

First-half results season is upon us, and we have news from a number of income shares coming our way in…

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Happy young plus size woman sitting at kitchen table and watching tv series on tablet computer
Investing Articles

Is this the best time to start a Stocks and Shares ISA ever?

| Alan Oscroft

New investors might be scared to start their first Stocks and Shares ISA during gloomy times like the present. Here's…

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Shot of a young Black woman doing some paperwork in a modern office
Investing Articles

3 cheap FTSE 250 shares to buy in August?

| Alan Oscroft

As we await results and trading updates from UK stocks in August, I take a look at three FTSE 250…

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Investing Articles

3 cheap FTSE 100 shares to buy in August?

| Alan Oscroft

I'm seeing plenty of FTSE 100 buys these days, but how can we narrow them down? Following results announcements is…

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