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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

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Investing Articles

What’s going on with Wizz Air’s share price and where might it go from here?

| Simon Watkins

Wizz Air’s share price has seen volatile trading in recent days following its Q1 results and an upgrade from Barclays.…

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Investing Articles

Despite solid Q1 results, Vodafone’s share price looks 50% undervalued, with annual earnings growth forecast at 49%!

| Simon Watkins

Vodafone’s Q1 results appeared very promising to me, but its share price looks 50% underpriced compared to its ‘fair value’.…

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Investing Articles

Here’s how investors can target £23,238 a year in passive income from £10,000 invested in this FTSE energy stock

| Simon Watkins

I want three key facets in my passive income share portfolio, which is designed to provide me with big dividend…

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Investing Articles

Near a 3-year low, is now just the right time for investors to consider this FTSE 100 housebuilding giant?

| Simon Watkins

A FTSE 100 leader in the homebuilding sector is close to levels not seen since 2022, but this may mean…

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Investing Articles

Trading at a 10-year high after good H1 results, is there any value left in Lloyds share price?

| Simon Watkins

Lloyds' share price is trading near 2015-levels after H1 results beat analysts’ expectations. But there may still be significant value…

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Investing Articles

Here’s how investors could target £11,384 of passive income from 1,549 shares in this FTSE 250 dividend gem!

| Simon Watkins

This FTSE 250 advanced materials firm delivers a very high dividend yield that could generate a big annual income stream…

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Investing Articles

Down 18% since September, is it time for me to capitalise on GSK’s bargain-basement share price?

| Simon Watkins

GSK’s share price has fallen a lot in 10 months, which means it could be a huge bargain. I ran…

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Investing Articles

This FTSE financial services stock looks 51% undervalued and has annual forecast earnings growth of 11%!

| Simon Watkins

This FTSE 100 insurance and asset management giant looks set for very strong earnings growth and is priced at less…

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Investing Articles

£11,000 in savings? Here’s how to target £13,998 of annual dividend income from Legal & General shares…

| Simon Watkins

Legal & General shares are extremely underpriced compared to their ‘fair value’ and continue to offer one of the highest…

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Investing Articles

£10,000 in savings? Here’s how to target £21,475 of annual passive income from this 10.2%-yielding energy high-flier!

| Simon Watkins

This energy firm pays one of the highest dividend yields in any of the FTSE leading indices that can generate…

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Investing Articles

What’s happening with IAG’s share price?

| Simon Watkins

IAG’s share price is around a 15-year high following positive comments from a US investment banking giant, and I think…

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Investing Articles

How does this relatively overlooked FTSE 100 defence stock’s valuation line up against Rolls-Royce and BAE Systems?

| Simon Watkins

One FTSE 100 defence giant has largely escaped the recent attention on some other firms in the booming sector, so…

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Investing Articles

Is it worth me buying more AstraZeneca shares at just over £13?

| Simon Watkins

AstraZeneca shares have dropped substantially from their record-breaking heyday in September, but is this the ideal time for me to…

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Investing Articles

Just over £5 now, easyJet’s share price looks cheap to me anywhere under £13.84

| Simon Watkins

easyJet’s share price has dropped recently, which could mean the business is worth less than before. Conversely, it could mean…

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Investing Articles

36% under ‘fair value’ and forecast annual earnings growth of 6%, should investors consider this FTSE 250 stock?  

| Simon Watkins

This FTSE 250 firm is a leader in a growing sector and has secured several new sites to drive its…

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Investing Articles

Around a 15-year high, is Barclays’ share price still too cheap to ignore?

| Simon Watkins

Barclays’ share price is at a level not seen since 2010, but price and value aren't the same thing, so…

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Investing Articles

47% below fair value and with an 18% earnings growth forecast, should investors consider this FTSE retail institution now?

| Simon Watkins

This FTSE 100 British retail institution lost its way for a while but has bounced back in recent years, and…

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

This FTSE 100 passive income gem now has a forecast yield of a stunning 8.5%, so should I buy more?

| Simon Watkins

This FTSE 100 dividend giant already has a very high yield, and is projected to go even higher in the…

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Investing Articles

3 key reasons why I think BP’s share price could soar following a 16% fall over the year…

| Simon Watkins

BP’s share price has lost considerable ground over the course of the year, but I think there are three reasons…

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Investing Articles

Investors could target £6,531 in annual dividend income from £11,000 in this FTSE 100 financial giant. It looks very undervalued too!

| Simon Watkins

This FTSE 100 firm has delivered very high dividends in recent years, which analysts predict are set to go even…

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Exterior of BT Group head office - One Braham, London
Investing Articles

Should I add to my BT holding now, with the share price near a 12-month high?

| Simon Watkins

BT’s share price has risen a long way from this year’s traded low, but this doesn't necessarily mean it's overvalued.…

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DIVIDEND YIELD text written on a notebook with chart
Investing Articles

Investors could target £8,840 of annual dividend income from 5,851 shares in this FTSE 250 high-yield star!

| Simon Watkins

Shares in this FTSE 250 stock generate a much higher dividend yield than the index average and can produce potentially…

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Investing Articles

HSBC’s share price has dipped 5% to just over £9, so should I buy more right now?

| Simon Watkins

HSBC’s share price has dipped in recently, but this could signal a bargain to be had. I ran the key…

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Investing Articles

Down 10% from May, is it time for me to buy more of this high-yielding FTSE heavyweight?

| Simon Watkins

This FTSE 100 giant is forecast to have a 6.3% dividend yield by 2027, and looks substantially undervalued to me,…

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Investing Articles

Down 37% but with 47% forecast earnings growth and $1bn buyback announced, does Glencore’s share price look cheap to me?

| Simon Watkins

Glencore’s share price has dropped over the year on concerns about China’s economic growth and US tariffs, but its earnings…

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Investing Articles

Down 5% despite good Q1 results, is now the time for investors to consider Sainsbury’s shares?

| Simon Watkins

Supermarket giant Sainsbury’s released solid Q1 results on 1 July, but is down 5% from its one-year traded high, so…

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

Here’s how investors could target £5,174 a year in passive income from £5,000 in savings invested in this FTSE 100 gem…

| Simon Watkins

This often overlooked FTSE 100 savings and investment giant has an ultra-high yield of 8.4%, which can generate enormous passive…

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Businessman using pen drawing line for increasing arrow from 2024 to 2025
Investing Articles

This FTSE 100 dividend gem now yields a stunning 8.6% a year, so should I buy more?

| Simon Watkins

This very-high-yielding FTSE 100 financial services titan can generate huge dividend income over time, especially if the power of dividend…

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Investing Articles

Is Shell’s share price a bargain after a 9% fall?

| Simon Watkins

Shell’s share price is down, leaving the stock looking even more undervalued to me, especially given its strong earnings growth…

Read more »

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Investing Articles

Down 8% to under £19, is BAE Systems’ share price a bargain?

| Simon Watkins

BAE Systems’ share price has recently lost ground, but NATO's pledged a huge increase in defence spending from which the…

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Investing Articles

An 8.4% yield and down 33%, is Taylor Wimpey’s share price seriously cheap now?

| Simon Watkins

Taylor Wimpey’s share price has fallen a long way as uncertainty plagues the housing market. However, things may be taking…

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Businessman hand stacking money coins with virtual percentage icons
Investing Articles

46% undervalued with a 6.8% forecast dividend yield, should I buy more of this overlooked FTSE gem now?

| Simon Watkins

This FTSE 100 financial services giant looks deeply under its ‘fair value’ to me and has a 6%+ dividend yield…

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Investing Articles

Do the rewards outweigh the risks in Lloyds share price?

| Simon Watkins

Lloyds share price has risen considerably over the past year, but significant value may remain. That said, there are some…

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

44% under ‘fair value’ and 16% annual earnings growth forecast, should I buy more of this 6.8%-yielding passive income gem?

| Simon Watkins

This FTSE 100 heavyweight has paid a high dividend for years that can generate huge passive income, and it looks…

Read more »

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

At around £9.70, is Rolls-Royce’s share price close to its ‘fair value’ yet?

| Simon Watkins

Rolls-Royce’s share price has risen hugely in recent years, which brings the risk that it could be entering overvalued territory.…

Read more »

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Investing Articles

Down 29% despite strong full-year results and 32% forecast annual growth, this FTSE 250 nanotech firm looks a hidden gem to me

| Simon Watkins

This FTSE 250 world-leader in ultra-high-tech products for use in multiple sectors is forecast to see huge earnings growth and…

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Investing Articles

I bought 1,256 Aviva shares 3 years ago. Here’s how much dividend and price profit I’ve made since then…

| Simon Watkins

In 2022, I added another £5,000 of Aviva shares to my holding in the financial giant and since then I've…

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Investing Articles

Down 7% from March, are shares in this FTSE star financial stock at a bargain-basement price?

| Simon Watkins

This FTSE 100 financial gem has fallen in price recently, but this could signal a huge bargain to be had.…

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National Grid engineers at a substation
Investing Articles

Is it worth me buying National Grid shares at just under £11?

| Simon Watkins

National Grid shares are close to their post-rights issue high, but there could still be value remaining in the stock.…

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Investing Articles

Up 81% from its 1-year low, has Burberry’s share price rebound left it seriously overvalued?

| Simon Watkins

Burberry’s share price has strengthened considerably since it issued profit warnings in Q1 fiscal year 2024/25, but has it now…

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