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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

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

Down 15%, is it time to buy this LSE stock for high passive income?

| Simon Watkins

M&G is a powerhouse LSE stock offering serious passive income and it looks a bargain to me now, having dropped…

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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

How these 2 LSE stocks could make me a second income of £1,780!

| Simon Watkins

These 2 LSE stocks pay high dividends, can be bought at big discounts to their year highs and could pay…

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Satellite on planet background
Investing Articles

Near their all-time high, can BAE Systems shares still go higher?

| Simon Watkins

Ongoing global insecurity, a slew of new orders, and great H1 results have pushed BAE Systems shares near to their…

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Man putting his card into an ATM machine while his son sits in a stroller beside him.
Investing Articles

Down 24%, is it time to buy this high-yielding FTSE 100 bank stock?

| Simon Watkins

This FTSE 100 bank has been hit by bad publicity, but it posted great H1 results, and paid an 11.4%…

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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

Down 22%, is it time to buy this LSE stock for high passive income?

| Simon Watkins

Rio Tinto is a powerhouse LSE stock offering serious passive income and it looks a bargain to me now, having…

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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

Is this high-yield stock a no-brainer buy for serious passive income?

| Simon Watkins

High-yield Aviva has sold off non-core businesses, focused on growth, pays stellar dividends, and is trading at a 20% discount…

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

At 20% down from January, is it time for me to buy Glencore shares?

| Simon Watkins

Glencore shares have dropped 20% since January but great trading capabilities and stellar dividends make them look a bargain to…

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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

Time for me to buy this hidden FTSE 100 gem for turbo-charged passive income?

| Simon Watkins

This FTSE 100 stock yields over 9%, has great brands under its business umbrella, and can be bought at a…

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Man putting his card into an ATM machine while his son sits in a stroller beside him.
Investing Articles

A 5%+ yield but down 17% from February, Lloyds shares look cheap to me

| Simon Watkins

Lloyds shares offer a high yield that looks set to increase, great growth prospects and what I see as a…

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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

With an 8% payout but down 12%, this dividend stock looks cheap to me

| Simon Watkins

Down 12% from March but with a strong balance sheet, great growth plans, and an 8%+ yield, star dividend stock…

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Concept of two young professional men looking at a screen in a technological data centre
Investing Articles

After poor results, is now the time to buy Rio Tinto shares on a dip?

| Simon Watkins

Rio Tinto shares fell after disappointing H1 results, but with improving prospects for key commodities buyer China, is now the…

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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

A 10% dividend, but down 12%, this high-yield star looks cheap to me

| Simon Watkins

With a strong core business and a high-yield dividend that would allow investors to double their money in 10 years,…

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A GlaxoSmithKline scientist uses a microscope
Investing Articles

Great products and dividends make this FTSE 100 stock look cheap to me

| Simon Watkins

Down 9% from its high this year, but with new product approvals and good dividends, this FTSE 100 heavyweight now…

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

Still at a discount to March’s high, Shell shares look cheap to me

| Simon Watkins

A recommitment to its core business as oil and gas prices rise, plus great shareholder rewards and trading operations make…

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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

With an 8% yield but down 22%, Glencore shares look a bargain to me

| Simon Watkins

Glencore shares have lost 22% from January, but with an 8% yield, great trading operations, and earnings set to exceed…

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Concept of two young professional men looking at a screen in a technological data centre
Investing Articles

Down 6% from March, this high-yield star looks cheap to me

| Simon Watkins

High-yield star abrdn must keep shareholders happy with good payouts. But it also has sound growth plans and trading 6%…

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

Down 38% from January, this FTSE 100 dividend star looks cheap to me

| Simon Watkins

This FTSE 100 mining giant is a heavyweight commodities markets player, pays high dividends and is down sharply so looks…

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Petrochemical engineer working at night with digital tablet inside oil and gas refinery plant
Investing Articles

Down 20% from February, the BP share price looks a bargain to me

| Simon Watkins

BP’s share price has lost 20% since February but, with rising oil and gas prices, great traders, and stellar shareholder…

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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

Down 15% from March, this FTSE 100 high-yield star looks cheap to me

| Simon Watkins

Down 15% from March but with a great core business, growth plans and shareholder rewards, this high-yield FTSE 100 stock…

Read more »

Businesswoman calculating finances in an office
Investing Articles

This 9.5%-yielding dividend stock looks a hidden gem in the FTSE 100

| Simon Watkins

Overlooked by many small investors, this star dividend stock yields 9.5%. It has a great business plan, and at 17%…

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Man putting his card into an ATM machine while his son sits in a stroller beside him.
Investing Articles

Down 26%, is it time to buy this high-dividend FTSE 100 bank?

| Simon Watkins

With an 11%+ dividend last year, a strong balance sheet, government support, and down 26% from February, is it time…

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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

Down 17% from their March high, Aviva shares look a bargain to me

| Simon Watkins

Down sharply from this year's high, paying stellar dividends, and with a great growth plan, I think Aviva shares are…

Read more »

White female supervisor working at an oil rig
Investing Articles

Down 13% from its 2023 high, Shell’s share price looks a bargain to me

| Simon Watkins

Shell’s share price is down 13% this year, but a focus on its core businesses and excellent shareholder rewards make…

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A graph made of neon tubes in a room
Investing Articles

Down over 20% from January, Glencore’s share price looks cheap to me

| Simon Watkins

Glencore’s share price has dropped 20%+ this year, but a Chinese economic turnaround, great fundamentals and good dividends mean I…

Read more »

Businesswoman calculating finances in an office
Investing Articles

Is it time for me to buy this star dividend stock at a knockdown price?

| Simon Watkins

Down over 15% from its March high, but at the top of the dividend table and with rising investor inflows,…

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

New field start-up and China recovery makes BP share price look cheap to me

| Simon Watkins

The BP share price has dropped 17% from its February high but a new field, stellar fundamentals, and China’s recovery…

Read more »

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

Down 40% from this year’s high, this FTSE 100 stock looks cheap to me

| Simon Watkins

This FTSE 100 mining giant is a heavyweight commodities markets player, pays high dividends and down sharply, looks cheap to…

Read more »

Close up of manual worker's equipment at construction site without people.
Investing Articles

Down 11% from March, is it time to buy this FTSE 100 growth stock?

| Simon Watkins

This growth stock is under the radar of many investors, but with great US projects, soaring profits, and an 11%…

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

Is this the best big-picture stock in the FTSE 100?

| Simon Watkins

To some degree, most stocks in the FTSE 100 are being affected by high inflation, rising interest rates and fears…

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A GlaxoSmithKline scientist uses a microscope
Investing Articles

Will GSK’s share price spike on Zantac news be sustained?

| Simon Watkins

GSK’s share price spiked on news of a settlement over Zantac, but other factors also mean it may continue to…

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White female supervisor working at an oil rig
Investing Articles

Will a renewed focus on oil and gas fuel Shell share price gains?

| Simon Watkins

As a new CEO looks to focus on oil and gas, boost shareholder rewards, and offload deadwood businesses, will the…

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Concept of two young professional men looking at a screen in a technological data centre
Investing Articles

Can a new CEO reverse the share price losses of this star high-yield stock?

| Simon Watkins

High-yield star Legal & General has lost 15% of its share value since March but will a new CEO and…

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Businesswoman calculating finances in an office
Investing Articles

Down 18% from January, this FTSE 100 dividend stock looks cheap to me

| Simon Watkins

Uncertainty over China’s economy has been key to this dividend stock’s price fall. But this looks overdone to me, and…

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Engineer Project Manager Talks With Scientist working on Computer
Investing Articles

Will rumours of a separate listing damage AstraZeneca’s share price?

| Simon Watkins

Will rumours of a separate listing away from the FTSE 100 damage AstraZeneca’s share price or will its stellar fundamentals…

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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

Will new management lift British American Tobacco’s share price?

| Simon Watkins

Can key changes to its management board help to reverse the 23% slide in British American Tobacco’s share price this…

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

Down 19% from January, is it time to buy this FTSE 100 dividend star?

| Simon Watkins

Shares in FTSE 100 stock Glencore have lost 19% from January but do growth plans, market conditions, and likely high…

Read more »

Businesswoman calculating finances in an office
Investing Articles

Down 11% since March, is it time to buy this star dividend stock?

| Simon Watkins

A 10% dividend last year, good growth plans, and ongoing speculation of a takeover make this star FTSE 100 dividend…

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A GlaxoSmithKline scientist uses a microscope
Investing Articles

Down 12% since April, the GSK share price fall looks overdone to me

| Simon Watkins

With a raft of new products, healthy dividends and growth prospects, the almost 12% fall in the GSK share price…

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White female supervisor working at an oil rig
Investing Articles

Down 20% from February, is it time to buy this star FTSE 100 stock?

| Simon Watkins

Ideally positioned for the energy transition and with great trading expertise, the 20% drop in share price of this FTSE…

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Defence - soldiers jumping out of a perfectly good plane
Investing Articles

Down 8%, new orders make BAE Systems’ share price look like a bargain

| Simon Watkins

The BAE Systems share price looks like a bargain to me, given big new orders added to an already huge…

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