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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

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…

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 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…

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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…

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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…

Read more »

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…

Read more »

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…

Read more »

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…

Read more »

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…

Read more »

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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Businesswoman calculating finances in an office
Investing Articles

This top FTSE 100 dividend stock may increase shareholder returns further

| Simon Watkins

Down 20%, but under pressure to increase shareholder returns, with good financials and growth plans, is it time to buy…

Read more »

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

The FTSE 100 bank that yielded 11% in 2022 and is set for growth

| Simon Watkins

With a government stake, balance sheet strength, stellar dividends, and exciting growth prospects, this FTSE 100 bank looks a bargain…

Read more »

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

Down 10% this year, the Aviva share price looks like a FTSE 100 bargain

| Simon Watkins

A non-core business divestment, a new pensions deal and one of the strongest rates of return in its sector make…

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

This FTSE 100 stock offers dividends and growth and looks a bargain

| Simon Watkins

FTSE 100 stock Rio Tinto has lost over 20%, but operational strength, dividends, and changing commodities markets make me think…

Read more »

Engineer Project Manager Talks With Scientist working on Computer
Investing Articles

Is now the time to buy this FTSE 100 outperformer on the dip?

| Simon Watkins

AstraZeneca shares have dipped from their previous high this year, but a new deal highlights that now might be the…

Read more »

Businesswoman calculating finances in an office
Investing Articles

After its housing pullback, is this star dividend stock a stronger buy?

| Simon Watkins

Legal & General’s pullback in its housing business is a major positive for me, adding to the appeal of its…

Read more »

White female supervisor working at an oil rig
Investing Articles

The Shell share price is down 5%+. Is now the time to buy?

| Simon Watkins

Stellar Q1 results, extended bumper rewards for shareholders and great growth prospects make the Shell share price look like a…

Read more »

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

Down 10%+ this year, the BP share price looks like a true bargain

| Simon Watkins

Stellar results, big deals in its fossil fuels and clean energy ops, plus great trading capabilities make the BP share…

Read more »

Businesswoman calculating finances in an office
Investing Articles

Down 10%, new deal highlights major Aviva share price upside potential

| Simon Watkins

New pensions deals, a streamlining of its businesses, and a bumper year for shareholder rewards highlight the upside potential of…

Read more »

Young female couple boarding their plane at the airport to go on holiday.
Investing Articles

Down 75% since Covid, is the IAG share price set to soar again?

| Simon Watkins

Lower oil prices, a weaker dollar, strong quarterly results, and possible takeovers may cause the IAG share price to soar…

Read more »

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

The Gulf Keystone Petroleum (GKP) share price is down 40% this year, so is it time to buy?

| Simon Watkins

The Gulf Keystone Petroleum (GKP) share price has fallen as uncertainty rises for independent oil and gas firms in the…

Read more »

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

With stellar results but down 5% this year, are HSBC shares cheap?

| Simon Watkins

HSBC shares have rallied 5% on today’s stellar results but they're still down on the year, so are they cheap…

Read more »

A GlaxoSmithKline scientist uses a microscope
Investing Articles

Is this star FTSE 100 stock set for take-off after Q1 results surprise?

| Simon Watkins

GSK is a star FTSE 100 stock whose price has fallen over 15% in the past year, but its Q1…

Read more »

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

With a 7% dividend but down 15%, the abrdn share price looks cheap

| Simon Watkins

The abrdn share price is down 15%. But it's making great progress on a new development plan, including a deal…

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Investing Articles

10%+ dividend yield! The blue-chip high-yield stock going cheap

| Simon Watkins

High-yield stock M&G is well-regulated, has solid fundamentals, is seeing huge client fund inflows and, down 10% this year, looks…

Read more »

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

After a 5% drop this year, the Shell share price looks very cheap

| Simon Watkins

The Shell share price has fallen over 5% this year, despite record profits in 2022, rising oil and gas prices,…

Read more »