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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

Investing Articles

Could I double my money with easyJet shares?

| Alan Oscroft

I usually don't buy airline stocks as the business is so tough. But after the easyJet share price fall, I'm…

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Investing Articles

3 cheap FTSE 250 shares to buy with £5,000 today

| Alan Oscroft

The FTSE 250 has had a poor year. But when the market is down, I think that's a great time…

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Investing Articles

5 UK dividend shares with yields of 8%+

| Alan Oscroft

As stock markets are falling, I'm seeing a lot of increasingly attractive dividend shares out there. Today, I examine five…

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Investing Articles

The best UK biotech shares to buy today

| Alan Oscroft

A lot of UK biotech shares have fallen over the past 12 months as the Covid effect recedes. I reckon…

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Investing Articles

Here’s my plan to make passive income with just £50 a month

| Alan Oscroft

It's not just wealthy people who can enjoy a passive income. I think anybody can do it, starting small and…

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Happy young female stock-picker in a cafe
Investing Articles

Can I double my money with Woodbois shares?

| Alan Oscroft

The Woodbois share price has already climbed more than 80% from its 52-week low. Could there be a further doubling…

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Investing Articles

Can I double my money with BT shares?

| Alan Oscroft

After the dividends were reinstated for 2022, BT shares could be looking more attractive again. What's the chance of a…

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Investing Articles

5 fallen FTSE 100 shares to buy in June

| Alan Oscroft

Volatile months on the FTSE 100 mean only one thing to me: buying opportunities. Here are five shares I rate…

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Investing Articles

5 ‘no-brainer’ investment trusts to buy right now

| Alan Oscroft

Investment trusts are a great way to diversify, while seeking specific strategies. Here's a way to narrow down the choice.

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Investing Articles

Stocks and Shares ISAs are falling, but that means more buying opportunities

| Alan Oscroft

The past year has seen many Stocks and Shares ISA portfolios drop in value. I say that's good news for…

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Investing Articles

Can I double my money with Lloyds shares?

| Alan Oscroft

My investment in Lloyds shares hasn't made me rich yet. But with the share price hammered, is my money set…

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British Pennies on a Pound Note
Investing Articles

How to get rich buying penny shares… or lose money trying!

| Alan Oscroft

Penny shares, those priced at less than 100p, have been popular with investors for years. Are they really such a…

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

Why the Scottish Mortgage share price fell 11% in May

| Alan Oscroft

With tech stocks plummeting, the Scottish Mortgage share price fell further in May. Is it time to buy while it's…

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

Why the Woodbois share price soared and fell in May

| Alan Oscroft

The Woodbois share price climbed to a year's high in May, before falling back. What was behind the month's ups…

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Investing Articles

5 passive income shares to buy with £5,000 today

| Alan Oscroft

What's the best way to start a passive income portfolio today? Here are five shares I think investors should consider.

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Investing Articles

Are Darktrace shares a ‘no-brainer’ growth buy right now?

| Alan Oscroft

Darktrace shares have slumped since their peak in late 2021, amid some bad publicity. I'm wondering if I'm seeing a…

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Investing Articles

Is now a good time to buy FTSE 100 shares?

| Alan Oscroft

With economic conditions worsening, many people are understandably worried about investing in FTSE 100 shares right now.

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Investing Articles

Is now a good time to buy dividend shares?

| Alan Oscroft

As economic pressures increase, concerns are growing over dividend shares. Here's why I think it's right to buy now, not…

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Fans of Warren Buffett taking his photo
Investing Articles

How to invest like Warren Buffett to beat a stock market fall

| Alan Oscroft

Warren Buffett has been investing heavily in new stocks. I've been examining his buys, to help me narrow down my…

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Investing Articles

5 UK penny shares to buy with £5,000 today

| Alan Oscroft

It's hard to remember a time when there were as many tempting penny shares around as now. Here are five…

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Investing Articles

3 reasons to sell Lloyds shares today

| Alan Oscroft

The Lloyds share price is falling again, as economic conditions worsen. I've been examining my investment case and wondering whether…

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Investing Articles

5 UK shares to buy with £5,000 today

| Alan Oscroft

Here are five UK shares I like the look of right now, as we enter an economically-troubled British summer.

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Young woman working at modern office. Technical price graph and indicator, red and green candlestick chart and stock trading computer screen background.
Investing Articles

Are we in a recession?

| Alan Oscroft

With economic output falling, fears of a new recession are growing. Are we likely to be in one? And how…

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Investing Articles

5 tips for picking the best dividend shares today

| Alan Oscroft

How do I pick dividend shares for my portfolio? Here are a few rules of thumb that have helped to…

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Investing Articles

5 ‘no-brainer’ FTSE 250 shares to buy today

| Alan Oscroft

I'm seeing a lot of attractive dividend shares in the FTSE 250 right now. This approach gives me some very…

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

How investors can boost their passive income when the FTSE is falling

| Alan Oscroft

Stock markets are plagued with fears right now. Here's why I firmly believe those fears improve our passive income prospects.

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Investing Articles

How to put a valuation on the Woodbois share price

| Alan Oscroft

The Woodbois share price has fallen from its recent spike, so should I buy now? And how can I work…

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Bus waiting in front of the London Stock Exchange on a sunny day.
Investing Articles

The Footsie is falling, but the sky isn’t! What should investors do now?

| Alan Oscroft

A global rout is spreading to the Footsie, leaving fear in its wake. Or maybe it's just giving us some…

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Investing Articles

Is now the perfect time to buy Rolls-Royce shares?

| Alan Oscroft

Rolls-Royce shares remain in the dumps, but recent updates are making me feel more optimistic. Will 2022 be a turnaround…

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Close-up of British bank notes
Investing Articles

5 ‘no-brainer’ dividend shares to buy today

| Alan Oscroft

Is there an easy way to narrow down the list of FTSE 100 dividend shares? I try one approach, with…

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Investing Articles

Is the Aviva share price on the verge of recovery?

| Alan Oscroft

The Aviva share price has been creeping back. What does the latest Q1 update say about the long-term future?

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Investing Articles

A question investors need to ask about the Woodbois share price

| Alan Oscroft

The Woodbois share price has declined a little from its peak in early May. Does that mean I should buy…

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Trader on video call from his home office
Investing Articles

IG’s top UK shares (and one US share) to buy today

| Alan Oscroft

Spread-betting specialist IG has identified two undervalued UK shares, plus one US share, as possible May buys.

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Investing Articles

3 reasons I’d buy BT shares today

| Alan Oscroft

The BT share price looks cheap to me, and I can see three key reasons why I should buy. But…

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Hand flipping wooden cubes for change wording" Panic " to " Calm".
Investing Articles

How to invest in FTSE 100 shares after recent ups and downs

| Alan Oscroft

We had a turbulent time in the FTSE 100 last week. But what difference did it make, and how do…

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Investing Articles

Scottish Mortgage shares have slumped 40%. Time to buy now?

| Alan Oscroft

Scottish Mortgage Investment Trust (LON: SMT) shares have rewarded shareholders well in recent years. I'm thinking of buying now they're…

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Investing Articles

£3.3bn raid sends the Vodafone share price up. Here’s what I’d do

| Alan Oscroft

The Vodafone (LON:VOD) share price opened higher on Monday, as news of a big buy from a major investor was…

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Investing Articles

3 top dividend shares to beat a new recession

| Alan Oscroft

I believe that good dividend shares are my best approach to keeping my money safe in a recession. Here are…

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

3 ways to invest in UK shares to beat a new recession

| Alan Oscroft

The UK economy shrank in March, and there's probably worse to come. How will I handle my UK shares? I…

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Investing Articles

How to invest in shares to generate long-term passive income

| Alan Oscroft

Many investors strive to generate a long-term passive income stream. But choosing the right shares that will reward us for…

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