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Simon Watkins

After graduating from Oxford University with BA (Hons) and MA (Hons) degrees, Simon Watkins worked for several years as a Forex trader and salesman, becoming Head of Forex Institutional Sales for Credit Lyonnais, and then Director of Forex at Bank of Montreal. He then became a financial journalist, including positions as Head of Weekly Publications, Managing Editor and Chief Writer of Business Monitor International, Head of Global Fuel Oil Products for Platts, and Global Managing Editor of Research and Vice President of Renaissance Capital investment bank in Moscow. He has written extensively on the oil market and other commodities markets, Forex, equities, bonds, economics and geopolitics for many publications, including The Financial Times, Euromoney, Financial Times Capital Insights, OilPrice, NewsBase, Risk.net, and FTSE Global Markets. In addition, he has worked as an investment and risk consultant for major hedge funds in London, New York, Moscow, and Dubai, and regularly appears as an oil and financial markets expert on various international television networks, including the BBC, and Al Jazeera. Simon has also written eight best-selling books on the global financial markets and financial markets trading, all of which are available from Amazon, Apple, Kobo, Barnes & Noble, and Blackwells, among others.

Recent Articles

A pastel colored growing graph with rising rocket.
Investing Articles

Is this FTSE growth superstar set to soar even higher on new drug results?

| Simon Watkins

New drugs should significantly boost this FTSE stock’s earnings in my view. But even without them it looked very undervalued…

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

£9,000 in savings? Here’s how I’d try to turn that into £7,864 every year in passive income

| Simon Watkins

Investing a relatively small amount in high-yielding stocks and reinvesting the dividends paid can generate significant passive income over time.

Read more »

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

Is Aviva’s share price a bargain now it’s trading well below £5?

| Simon Watkins

Aviva’s share price has slumped to well below £5, but even before that it looked a bargain to me, with…

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Two white male workmen working on site at an oil rig
Investing Articles

At around £28.50, Shell’s share price looks cheap to me

| Simon Watkins

Shell’s share price still looks undervalued against its fossil-fuel-focused rivals to me, despite it pushing back its carbon reduction targets.

Read more »

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

433 shares in this FTSE 100 dividend superstar could make me £18,803 in annual passive income!

| Simon Watkins

This overlooked FTSE 100 gem has one of the best yields in the index, looks undervalued, and makes me big…

Read more »

Long-term vs short-term investing concept on a staircase
Investing Articles

£20,000 in savings? Here’s how I’d aim to turn that into a £1,231 monthly second income!

| Simon Watkins

Generating a sizeable second income can be life-enhancing, and it can be done from relatively small investments in high-dividend-paying stocks.

Read more »

A pastel colored growing graph with rising rocket.
Investing Articles

Is Legal & General’s share price the best bargain in the FTSE 100?

| Simon Watkins

Legal & General’s share price looks very undervalued to me. It also yields 8.3% and seems set to benefit from…

Read more »

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

Even at £5+, BP’s share price still looks around 50% undervalued against its peers to me

| Simon Watkins

BP’s share price still looks very undervalued to me, given its strong core business and more pragmatic energy transition strategy.

Read more »

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

Down 27%, but set for major growth, this hidden FTSE gem looks cheap to me

| Simon Watkins

This powerhouse FTSE stock has embarked on a new growth strategy that’s already showing good results, but it looks undervalued…

Read more »

Bronze bull and bear figurines
Investing Articles

1 dividend superstar I’d buy over Lloyds shares right now

| Simon Watkins

I sold my Lloyds shares recently and have used some of the proceeds to buy more of this high-yielding dividend…

Read more »

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

£20,000 in savings? Here’s how I’d try to turn that into a £43,960 annual passive income!

| Simon Watkins

Investing a relatively small amount into high-yielding stocks and reinvesting the dividends can generate significant passive income over time.

Read more »

Rolls-Royce's Pearl 10X engine series
Investing Articles

Rolls-Royce shares look cheap to me after its investment-grade ratings clean sweep

| Simon Watkins

Despite recent gains, Rolls-Royce shares look great value to me, as it moves into its next phase of growth spurred…

Read more »

Person holding magnifying glass over important document, reading the small print
Investing Articles

A 10.5% yield but down 16%! Time for me to buy more of this FTSE hidden gem?

| Simon Watkins

This FTSE 100 insurer pays one of the highest dividends in the index, looks set for continued strong growth, and…

Read more »

GSK scientist holding lab syringe
Investing Articles

Is GSK’s share price the best bargain in the FTSE 100?

| Simon Watkins

Even before news of new drugs in the pipeline, GSK’s share price looked a huge bargain to me, but now…

Read more »

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

This FTSE 250 defence stock looks nearly 50% undervalued against its peers to me

| Simon Watkins

I think this FTSE 250 firm looks very undervalued, especially with a big and growing order book, and a massive…

Read more »

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

How many shares of this FTSE dividend star would make me £500 a month of passive income?

| Simon Watkins

This high-yielding FTSE dividend star can generate major passive income, especially if the dividends are reinvested, even starting from zero.

Read more »

White female supervisor working at an oil rig
Investing Articles

Is Shell’s share price the bargain its CEO implies it is?

| Simon Watkins

There’s an unfair valuation gap between Shell’s share price and those of its key competitors says its CEO. I think…

Read more »

Person holding magnifying glass over important document, reading the small print
Investing Articles

Is Imperial Brands’ share price set to soar on an upbeat H1 trading update?

| Simon Watkins

Imperial Brands’ share price looks very undervalued against its peers but may be boosted by a positive H1 trading update…

Read more »

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

£9,000 in savings? Here’s how I’d try to turn that into £1,243 a month of passive income

| Simon Watkins

Investing a relatively small amount into high-yielding stocks and reinvesting the dividends paid can generate significant passive income over time.

Read more »

Bronze bull and bear figurines
Investing Articles

1 dividend superstar bank I’d buy over Lloyds shares right now

| Simon Watkins

HSBC pays a much higher yield than Lloyds shares, is set to make more revenue, and does not have the…

Read more »

Satellite on planet background
Investing Articles

Is BAE Systems’ share price set for another huge boost on massive new orders?

| Simon Watkins

As the world becomes ever more dangerous, BAE Systems’ share price looks undervalued against its peers and seems set to…

Read more »

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

858 shares in this FTSE 100 dividend giant can make me £3,013 in passive income each month

| Simon Watkins

This FTSE 100 stock looks undervalued against its peers, has a growing business, and generates big passive income for me…

Read more »

Two white male workmen working on site at an oil rig
Investing Articles

Down 9%, BP’s share price looks a bargain to me, as oil trends higher

| Simon Watkins

BP’s share price has risen with oil prices, but it’s still undervalued against its peers, and buybacks, plus a bigger…

Read more »

A pastel colored growing graph with rising rocket.
Investing Articles

Is this FTSE dividend superstar also one of its best bargains?

| Simon Watkins

FTSE asset manager Legal & General pays an 8%+ dividend yield, has a strong core business and looks very undervalued…

Read more »

Rolls-Royce's Pearl 10X engine series
Investing Articles

Following a major ratings upgrade, Rolls-Royce’s share price looks a bargain to me

| Simon Watkins

Despite a big price rise this year, its promotion to investment grade makes Rolls-Royce’s share price looks even more undervalued…

Read more »

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

Down 40%+ but with a 10%+ yield! Time for me to buy this hidden FTSE 250 gem?

| Simon Watkins

FTSE 250 investment firm abrdn was demoted from the FTSE 100 and has fallen 41% in a year. But now…

Read more »

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

£20,000 in savings? Here’s how I’d try to turn that into £2,063 a month of passive income

| Simon Watkins

Investing a relatively small amount into high-yielding stocks and reinvesting the dividends can generate significant passive income over time.

Read more »

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

A 9%+ yield but down 8%! Time for me to buy more of this hidden FTSE 100 gem?

| Simon Watkins

This FTSE 100 stock has one of the highest yields in the index, looks set for strong growth, and met…

Read more »

A pastel colored growing graph with rising rocket.
Investing Articles

Time for me to buy more of this 10%-yielding FTSE gem after strong 2023 results?

| Simon Watkins

This FTSE firm’s share price surged on strong 2023 results, but I think there still looks to be value left…

Read more »

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

£10,000 in savings? Here’s how I’d try to turn that into £1,392 a month of passive income!

| Simon Watkins

Relatively small investments in high-yielding stocks can grow exponentially into significant passive income through the power of dividend compounding.

Read more »

Aviva logo on glass meeting room door
Investing Articles

As Aviva’s share price heads to £5 is there any value left in it?

| Simon Watkins

Aviva’s share price has risen following strong 2023 results, raising the issue for me of whether there's any value left…

Read more »

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

Should I buy more of this FTSE 100 dividend gem after stellar 2023 results?

| Simon Watkins

This FTSE 100 high-yield stock has risen on stellar 2023 results, but it still looks undervalued against its peers and…

Read more »

White female supervisor working at an oil rig
Investing Articles

BP’s share price is still down 10%, but as oil trends higher should I buy more?

| Simon Watkins

As oil prices rise, BP’s share price is rising too. But it’s still undervalued against its peer group, and buybacks,…

Read more »

Jumbo jet preparing to take off on a runway at sunset
Investing Articles

75% down from 2020, is IAG’s bargain-basement share price unmissable?

| Simon Watkins

IAG’s share price is around 75% lower than its pre-Covid level and looking very undervalued to me, despite stellar results.…

Read more »

Two white male workmen working on site at an oil rig
Investing Articles

Shell’s share price is still down 6%, so should I buy more?

| Simon Watkins

Shell’s share price has risen after the firm pushed back its carbon reduction targets, but it still looks undervalued against…

Read more »

Satellite on planet background
Investing Articles

Is this the next big FTSE growth stock?

| Simon Watkins

This FTSE firm was spun off from the UK Ministry of Defence in 2001, since when its has seen orders…

Read more »

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

£9,500 in savings? Here’s how I’d try to turn that into £1,809 a month of passive income

| Simon Watkins

Investing a relatively small amount into high-yielding stocks and reinvesting the dividends paid can generate significant passive income over time.

Read more »

Businesswoman analyses profitability of working company with digital virtual screen
Investing Articles

Dividend star Legal & General’s share price is still marked down, so should I buy more?

| Simon Watkins

Legal & General’s share price looks very undervalued against its peers. But it pays an 8%+ dividend yield, and has…

Read more »

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

Down 16%! Time for me to buy more of this 10%-yielding FTSE 100 hidden gem?

| Simon Watkins

This FTSE 100 stock met its huge cash generation target two years early, has one of the highest yields in…

Read more »

Person holding magnifying glass over important document, reading the small print
Investing Articles

1 dividend superstar I’d buy over Lloyds shares right now

| Simon Watkins

I’m selling my Lloyds shares and think I’ll use part of the proceeds to buy this very-high-yielding but currently out-of-favour…

Read more »