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Simon Watkins

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

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 »

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…

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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,…

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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…

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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…

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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…

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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…

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Investing Articles

Down 11% but yielding 8%+, the HSBC share price looks a bargain to me

| Simon Watkins

HSBC’s share price is down 11% from its 12-month high despite record profits. But it now yields 8%+ and the…

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Aerial view of York downtown at night
Investing Articles

A 5%+ yield but down 11%! National Grid’s share price looks cheap to me

| Simon Watkins

National Grid’s share price looks undervalued against its peers, reflecting neither its monopoly nor its ability to weather changing economic…

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Investing Articles

Is GSK’s share price set to soar on a new cancer drug?

| Simon Watkins

New drugs lines may boost GSK’s share price even further, but even without these, the business looks very undervalued against…

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

An 8.4% yield but down 13%! This overlooked FTSE dividend star looks a bargain to me

| Simon Watkins

This FTSE 100 stock looks to be undervalued against its peers, has a growing business, and pays a high dividend…

Read more »

Investing Articles

Here’s what £10,000 would have made me from Rolls-Royce’s recent share price bonanza

| Simon Watkins

Although Rolls-Royce’s share price has rocketed recently, it still looks very undervalued against its peers, and the business seems set…

Read more »

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

£10,000 in savings? Here’s how I’d aim for £11,651 every year in 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 »

Investing Articles

Should I buy more after Aviva’s share price jumps on 2023 results?

| Simon Watkins

Aviva’s share price spiked on good results, but more importantly for me is that its dividend increase made it a…

Read more »

Businessman use electronic pen writing rising colorful graph from 2023 to 2024 year of business planning and stock investment growth concept.
Investing Articles

If I invest £10,000 in this FTSE 100 dividend star, how much passive income could I make?

| Simon Watkins

This FTSE 100 star makes good profits, looks undervalued against its peers, and pays big dividends that can lead to…

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

Down 15% and with an increased dividend, BP’s share price looks a bargain to me

| Simon Watkins

Lower oil prices have left BP’s share price undervalued against its peers, but oil is now trending up again, and…

Read more »

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

This 9.5%-yielding FTSE 250 dividend giant looks like a hidden gem to me

| Simon Watkins

This FTSE 250 investment firm yields 9.5% and having been demoted from the FTSE 100 in 2023 now also looks…

Read more »

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

A 10.3% yield but down 24%! Time for me to buy more of this hidden FTSE gem?

| Simon Watkins

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

Read more »

Investing Articles

Shell’s share price has dropped 12%, so should I buy more?

| Simon Watkins

Shell’s share price looks undervalued compared to its peers, and it remains well-positioned in both the fossil fuel and green…

Read more »

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

436 shares in this FTSE dividend star could make me £1,567 a month in passive income

| Simon Watkins

This stock has one of the best yields in the FTSE 100 and generates major passive income for me, especially…

Read more »

Three signposts pointing in different directions, with 'Buy' 'Sell' and 'Hold' on
Investing Articles

Are Lloyds shares a bargain now at 47p or should I sell my holding?

| Simon Watkins

With a new mis-selling scandal in the making and banks’ net interest rate margins set to fall anyhow, Lloyds shares…

Read more »

Investing Articles

Despite rising 152% in a year, is Rolls-Royce’s share price still a bargain?

| Simon Watkins

While Rolls-Royce’s share price has shot up recently, it still looks very undervalued against its peers, and the business looks…

Read more »

A pastel colored growing graph with rising rocket.
Investing Articles

Is this dividend star also the best bargain in the FTSE 100?

| Simon Watkins

This FTSE 100 stock pays a whopping 8%+ yield, looks very undervalued against its peers, and is set for stellar…

Read more »

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

Is this little-known company the best growth stock in the FTSE 350?

| Simon Watkins

Shares in this FTSE 100 firm have septupled in value in 10 years but still look undervalued against their peers,…

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 £581 a month of passive income

| Simon Watkins

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

Read more »

Satellite on planet background
Investing Articles

Will I miss out if I don’t buy more of this star FTSE 100 growth stock?

| Simon Watkins

Despite rising steadily over recent years, this FTSE 100 stock is still undervalued against its peers and it looks set…

Read more »

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

Dividend star Legal & General’s share price is down 11%, so should I buy more?

| Simon Watkins

Legal & General’s share price looks very undervalued against its peers, pays a high dividend that is set to get…

Read more »

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

Down 17%, there looks a lot of value to me in BP’s share price

| Simon Watkins

BP’s share price looks undervalued against its peers, it has a better yield than the FTSE 100 average, and its…

Read more »

A pastel colored growing graph with rising rocket.
Investing Articles

An 8% yield but down 13%! This FTSE dividend superstar looks a bargain to me

| Simon Watkins

This FTSE 100 stock looks undervalued against its peers, appears to be managing its business transition well, and pays an…

Read more »

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

£0 in savings? Here’s how I’d turn that into £7,895 a month of passive income

| Simon Watkins

With no savings in the bank, small but regular investment into dividend-paying shares can result in significant passive income over…

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Investing Articles

Despite being around an 18-month high, GSK’s share price looks cheap to me

| Simon Watkins

GSK’s share price has risen over the past 18 months, but it still looks undervalued against its peers, and new…

Read more »

A pastel colored growing graph with rising rocket.
Investing Articles

A 7%+ yield but down 22%! Should I buy more after NatWest’s stellar 2023 results?

| Simon Watkins

The bank has posted its biggest profit since 2007, pays a 7.4% yield, and its shares still look very undervalued…

Read more »

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

A 10% yield but down 22%! This FTSE 100 hidden gem looks a no-brainer buy for me

| Simon Watkins

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

Read more »

Aerial view of York downtown at night
Investing Articles

A 5.5% yield but down 15%! National Grid shares look like a bargain to me

| Simon Watkins

Seemingly undervalued National Grid shares offer a 5.5% yield that may well go higher and the firm can make money…

Read more »