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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

Investor looking at stock graph on a tablet with their finger hovering over the Buy button
Investing Articles

3 reasons to buy cheap Lloyds shares right now

| Alan Oscroft

At the moment, I think Lloyds shares offer one of the best buys on the FTSE 100, despite the short-term…

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BUY AND HOLD spelled in letters on top of a pile of books. Alongside is a piggy bank in glasses. Buy and hold is a popular long term stock and shares strategy.
Investing Articles

The 10 best UK dividend shares for a 2023 ISA?

| Alan Oscroft

Looking for dividend shares to buy in a Stocks and Shares ISA? We just might have one of the best…

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Investing Articles

3 dirt cheap FTSE 250 stocks to buy for a 2023 ISA?

| Alan Oscroft

I wouldn't buy FTSE 250 stocks as my first ISA selections. But I would after I'd bought some bigger stocks…

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Investing Articles

5 dirt cheap FTSE 100 shares to buy in an ISA right now?

| Alan Oscroft

Looking for cheap FTSE 100 shares? I reckon that covers most of the index at the moment. Today, I examine…

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The words "what's your plan for retirement" written on chalkboard on pavement somewhere in London
Investing Articles

3 shares I bought for a second income when I retire

| Alan Oscroft

A second income is becoming a bit of a necessity for those of us looking forward to retirement these days.…

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

Should I buy J Sainsbury shares for long-term income?

| Alan Oscroft

While I've been watching Tesco, J Sainsbury shares have climbed this year. Is it too late for me to buy…

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Investing Articles

Is the Darktrace share price set to soar in 2023?

| Alan Oscroft

The Darktrace share price has crashed in the past two years. But the latest quarterly update doesn't look too bad…

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Investor looking at stock graph on a tablet with their finger hovering over the Buy button
Investing Articles

Here’s why I won’t buy Rolls-Royce shares right now

| Alan Oscroft

I see a lot that I like about Rolls-Royce shares at the moment, after a turnaround year in 2022. So…

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Investor looking at stock graph on a tablet with their finger hovering over the Buy button
Investing Articles

Is the THG share price too cheap to ignore?

| Alan Oscroft

The THG share price has been gaining ground in 2023, and I wonder if it might be a good time…

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Close-up of British bank notes
Investing Articles

I’d buy 10,000 Tesco shares for £100 in monthly passive income

| Alan Oscroft

I want to build up some long-term passive income by investing in FTSE 100 shares. Today, I'm looking at one…

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

Should I buy Glencore shares before it’s too late?

| Alan Oscroft

Glencore shares are moving after merger plans were floated. Even after a strong bull run, I still think there could…

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Middle-aged black male working at home desk
Investing Articles

5 stocks I’d buy for a brand new 2023 Stocks and Shares ISA

| Alan Oscroft

The new Stocks and Shares ISA year is here. With that, we have a whole new contribution limit to use,…

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Close-up of British bank notes
Investing Articles

I’d buy 50,000 Lloyds shares for £100 in monthly passive income

| Alan Oscroft

What's the best way to fund our retirements? Mine is by investing for dividend income, and that includes buying Lloyds…

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Businesswoman calculating finances in an office
Investing Articles

3 FTSE 100 shares I’d buy in April

| Alan Oscroft

In April, we'll have updates coming our way from some of our most popular companies. These FTSE 100 shares could…

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Investing Articles

I’d buy 16,000 Barclays shares for £100 in monthly passive income

| Alan Oscroft

What's the best way to build up a good passive income? I choose shares with good long-term financial strength. I…

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

Is time running out to buy cheap Scottish Mortgage shares?

| Alan Oscroft

Scottish Mortgage shares look like they might be regaining strength as the US Nasdaq steadies. But the discount still looks…

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Mature Caucasian woman sat at a table with coffee and laptop while making notes on paper
Investing Articles

This big 8% dividend makes me want to buy Glencore shares

| Alan Oscroft

Glencore shares have been up and down over the past decade, and the dividend has done the same. But right…

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Investing Articles

The Petrofac share price just jumped 60%. Time to buy?

| Alan Oscroft

Don't you love it when a stock soars unexpectedly? That's what just happened to the Petrofac share price, and it…

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Mature black couple enjoying shopping together in UK high street
Investing Articles

A once-in-a-decade opportunity to buy cheap boohoo shares?

| Alan Oscroft

The past couple of years have been rough on boohoo shares, and they crashed hard. But they've started climbing back…

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Middle-aged black male working at home desk
Investing Articles

3 cheap dividend stocks to buy in April?

| Alan Oscroft

It looks like 2023 might deliver a new record for stock market income. There's news from a few of our…

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

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

| Alan Oscroft

The ASOS share price did well during the pandemic. But those days are over, and it's down in the dumps…

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Investing Articles

The abrdn share price has soared in 6 months. Is there still time to buy?

| Alan Oscroft

The abrdn share price might be on a bit of a bull run now, but we need to look at…

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Close-up of British bank notes
Investing Articles

How to make big money from penny stocks

| Alan Oscroft

Penny stocks are very popular with investors, especially when markets are down. I think there's cash to be made, but…

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

Will the banks trigger a stock market crash, again?

| Alan Oscroft

The headlines are all shouting about a 2023 stock market crash, following a new global banking crisis. I don't see…

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

How to make money from FTSE 100 shares

| Alan Oscroft

Here's why volatile FTSE 100 shares, just like we're seeing right now, are exactly what long-term investors should be hoping…

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Close-up of British bank notes
Investing Articles

How to invest in a Stocks and Shares ISA for dividend income

| Alan Oscroft

The end of the Stocks and Shares ISA year is just days away. Here's how I use mine to generate…

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Smiling black woman showing e-ticket on smartphone to white male attendant at airport
Investing Articles

3 things that make me want to buy Rolls-Royce shares today

| Alan Oscroft

Are the storm clouds clearing, and is that really a sunny horizon coming into view? It might just be time…

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

How to earn passive income from shares for £5 a day

| Alan Oscroft

It doesn't take huge wealth to be able to generate healthy passive income. No, we can do it with modest…

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Fans of Warren Buffett taking his photo
Investing Articles

If I’d invested £1 with Warren Buffett in 1965, here’s what I’d have now

| Alan Oscroft

Wouldn't it be wonderful if we could all invest as well as Warren Buffett? Here's what trusting him with my…

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

How not to lose money on the FTSE 100

| Alan Oscroft

The FTSE 100 is falling! Panic! Sell shares! No, don't do any of that. Here's my guide to help investors…

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Close-up of British bank notes
Investing Articles

3 dividend shares with the biggest FTSE 250 yields. Time to buy?

| Alan Oscroft

Falling share prices have been pushing up the yields on many mid-cap dividend stocks. Are they sustainable long-term buys?

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

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

| Alan Oscroft

The Barclays share price was recovering quite nicely. But scares from the US have sent it tumbling again. I think…

Read more »

Silhouette of a bull standing on top of a landscape with the sun setting behind it
Investing Articles

3 reasons to buy Scottish Mortgage shares right now

| Alan Oscroft

In the latest global stock market turmoil, growth investors have been dumping Scottish Mortgage shares like yesterday's socks.

Read more »

Close-up of British bank notes
Investing Articles

3 dividend stocks with the biggest FTSE 100 yields. Time to buy?

| Alan Oscroft

Falling share prices have been pushing up the yields on some of our big dividend stocks. Are they sustainable long-term…

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

3 things that could tank the Lloyds share price

| Alan Oscroft

The Lloyds share price has fallen since its early 2023 recovery, although it's holding up so far. But dangers still…

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Stacks of coins
Investing Articles

3 penny shares under 70p to buy right now?

| Alan Oscroft

When stock markets fall, penny shares can often drop the furthest. I've been examining AIM in search of today's best…

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Front view photo of a woman using digital tablet in London
Investing Articles

5 top value shares to buy in a stock market crash?

| Alan Oscroft

Watching the FTSE falling can give us sleepless nights. But I also see some attractive value shares for long-term investors.

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Young Black woman looking concerned while in front of her laptop
Investing Articles

5 top tips for surviving a stock market crash

| Alan Oscroft

What's the best way to handle a stock market crash in 2023? Thanks to the internet, there's no shortage of…

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Bronze bull and bear figurines
Investing Articles

3 cheap FTSE 250 shares to buy right now?

| Alan Oscroft

With most attention on the FTSE 100 at the moment, I think there are some great value FTSE 250 shares…

Read more »

Silhouette of a bull standing on top of a landscape with the sun setting behind it
Investing Articles

3 dirt cheap growth shares to buy right now?

| Alan Oscroft

Forget investing in defensive stocks during market weakness, I reckon this is a great time to buy some cheap growth…

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