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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

Lady wearing a head scarf looks over pages on company financials
Investing Articles

5 things that could help drive the FTSE 100 in July

| Alan Oscroft

Despite the gloomy headlines, the FTSE 100 has held up quite well in 2022. Hopefully it's only a matter of…

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Bearded man writing on notepad in front of computer
Investing Articles

Here’s why I’m buying Scottish Mortgage shares

| Alan Oscroft

Scottish Mortgage shares have been plunging since soaring to a high in November 2021. It's all down to the big…

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Investing Articles

Is the FTSE 250 set for a new bull market?

| Alan Oscroft

Over the next 10 years, will the potential safety of the FTSE 100 come out on top? Or will the…

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

3 reasons the easyJet share price could climb in July

| Alan Oscroft

The easyJet share price looks like one of the weakest performers on the UK stock market right now, with turmoil…

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

Is now the perfect time to buy Tesla shares?

| Alan Oscroft

Tesla shares have lost nearly half their value since reaching a peak in November 2021, as the US Nasdaq has…

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Close-up of British bank notes
Investing Articles

Secrets of the world’s most successful passive income investors

| Alan Oscroft

Here's how it's possible to secure a healthy long-term passive income stream, based on a few simple principles gathered from…

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Smiling senior white man talking through telephone while using laptop at desk.
Investing Articles

£10,000 invested in BT shares 10 years ago is now worth this much

| Alan Oscroft

It's painful to remember that BT shares reached over £10 at the peak of the dot com bubble in 1999.…

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Investing Articles

£10,000 invested in Lloyds shares 10 years ago is now worth this much

| Alan Oscroft

Over the past decade, investors who put their cash into Lloyds shares have seen poor returns on their investment. Or…

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Investing Articles

5 mistakes to avoid in a new stock market recovery

| Alan Oscroft

Whether a stock market recovery is on the cards this year, next year, or whenever, I expect to see investors…

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Investing Articles

3 growth shares bucking the market in 2022

| Alan Oscroft

Looking at the stock market charts, we might think of 2022 more as a year for 'hope they don't shrink'…

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Investing Articles

3 share dividends I’d bank on to help beat inflation

| Alan Oscroft

It we want to be wealthy in our old age, investment returns that fail to match inflation are no good.…

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Mother and Daughter Blowing Bubbles
Investing Articles

Down 25%, are Taylor Wimpey shares a ‘no-brainer’ buy now?

| Alan Oscroft

Rising interest rates are bad for house buyers, and they're hitting the builders too. But I think Taylor Wimpey shares…

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Young brown woman delighted with what she sees on her screen
Investing Articles

3 signs that shares could be set for a new bull market

| Alan Oscroft

Stock markets are cyclical, and investors go through phases of buying and selling. How can we best deal with the…

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Warren Buffett at a Berkshire Hathaway AGM
Investing Articles

How to aim to use the Warren Buffett method to make a million, starting today

| Alan Oscroft

Why do investors love Warren Buffett so much? His 3.6 million percent investment return since 1965 probably has a lot…

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Investing Articles

3 top FTSE 250 shares to buy right now

| Alan Oscroft

I think the FTSE 250 is offering some great dividend and growth shares at the moment. And there are plenty…

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Close-up of British bank notes
Investing Articles

Can the Rolls-Royce share price get any cheaper than 80p?

| Alan Oscroft

The Rolls-Royce share price was edging back towards £1 and maybe above penny share levels. But then new troubles sent…

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Investing Articles

3 reasons I think the Aviva share price could double in 5 years

| Alan Oscroft

I'm not aiming to get rich quick, but today's Aviva share price makes me want to buy more and hold…

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Investing Articles

Secrets of the UK’s Stocks and Shares ISA millionaires

| Alan Oscroft

Is it really possible to become a millionaire using a Stocks and Shares ISA? Hundreds in the UK have already…

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Investing Articles

3 top investment trusts to buy right now

| Alan Oscroft

Investment trusts offer a wide range of options for investors. And in troubled times, they provide some safety through diversification…

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pensive bearded business man sitting on chair looking out of the window
Investing Articles

Why hasn’t the FTSE 100 crashed in 2022?

| Alan Oscroft

The catastrophic events of 2022 have left investors around the globe fearing the worst for stock markets. And some have…

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Tabletop model of a bear sat on desk in front of monitors showing stock charts
Investing Articles

Why a bear market is an investor’s best friend

| Alan Oscroft

A bear market can certainly be scary. But any investor tempted to sell might benefit by looking at Warren Buffett's…

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A couple celebrating moving in to a new home
Investing Articles

3 FTSE 100 shares to buy in July

| Alan Oscroft

Looking for income, growth, or just good old-fashioned value? I think I'm seeing examples of all three among FTSE 100…

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Close-up of British bank notes
Investing Articles

How I’d target £1,000 per month in passive income

| Alan Oscroft

How can we learn about investing for long-term passive income? I think the best way is to examine how the…

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happy senior couple using a laptop in their living room to look at their financial budgets
Investing Articles

After the Prudential share price falls 33%, am I seeing a no-brainer buy?

| Alan Oscroft

The Prudential share price was looking set for recovery in 2021. It's headed back down in 2022, and once again…

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Investing Articles

The BAE Systems share price is soaring. Time to buy?

| Alan Oscroft

I've thought of the BAE Systems share price as too low for years. And even now it's on the way…

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Young brown woman delighted with what she sees on her screen
Investing Articles

3 cheap shares to buy after 50% falls?

| Alan Oscroft

Falling stock markets mean cheap shares, right? It's still very important to focus on valuation, and look to the future…

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Investing Articles

After the Petropavlovsk share price has crashed 95%, who’s buying?

| Alan Oscroft

The Petropavlovsk share price has plunged to low penny share territory, with the Russia-based gold miner being crushed by Ukraine…

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

As the Royal Mail share price falls 50%, do I see a no-brainer buy?

| Alan Oscroft

The Royal Mail share price had a cracking year in 2021. But this year, it's crashed again. Is its low…

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Investing Articles

Which are better, Dividend Aristocrats or Heroes?

| Alan Oscroft

Dividend Aristocrats and Dividend Heroes are two different classifications, in different countries, to help investors find great long-term income stocks.

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Investing Articles

My Stocks & Shares ISA has slumped. Here’s why I’m loving it

| Alan Oscroft

I've invested through a number of stock market downturns, and in 2022 my Stocks and Shares ISA is dipping again.…

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Investing Articles

Why this could be the best year for stock market investors in a decade

| Alan Oscroft

What makes a year a good one for stock market investors, and what makes it bad? It's not what a…

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

5 top tips for a lifetime of passive income

| Alan Oscroft

Our shaky economic outlook right now is strengthening my focus on maintaining a long-term, passive income investment strategy.

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Investing Articles

Will the stock market crash in 2022?

| Alan Oscroft

In these days of increasing fear, with doom-mongers banging on about a stock market crash almost every day, those with…

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

Does the Scottish Mortgage (SMT) share price make it a no-brainer buy now?

| Alan Oscroft

The Scottish Mortgage Investment Trust (LON: SMT) share price has taken a hammering in 2022, as investors have deserted tech…

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Investing Articles

Are Lloyds shares a no-brainer buy at 42p?

| Alan Oscroft

Lloyds shares have given up their early 2022 gains and have plunged again. How resilient will the bank be in…

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Young black woman walking in Central London for shopping
Investing Articles

After ASOS shares fell 30%, are we looking at a no-brainer buy?

| Alan Oscroft

ASOS shares have been priced at lofty growth share valuations in recent years. But that's history now, and they might…

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Investing Articles

Is time running out to buy Rolls-Royce shares for less than £1?

| Alan Oscroft

Rolls-Royce shares are still being hammered after the pandemic. So why am I optimistic against a background of economic and…

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Investing Articles

Down 65% in 12 months, is the Deliveroo share price set to climb now?

| Alan Oscroft

The best time to buy is often when everyone else is selling. The Deliveroo share price fall is inspiring the…

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Investing Articles

How long do bear markets last on average?

| Alan Oscroft

The S&P 500 is in bear market territory, though the FTSE 100 is holding up. But what should investors do…

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Investing Articles

The FTSE 100 is set for record share buybacks. Time to buy?

| Alan Oscroft

Why do FTSE 100 companies buy back their own shares rather than handing over spare cash as extra dividends? And…

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