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Alan Oscroft

Alan is a freelance writer who began writing for The Motley Fool in the late 1990s. He has been a private investor for more 30 years, and has explored a number of strategies, settling on high-yielding blue-chip shares.

Recent Articles

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Investing Articles

Here’s why UK lithium stocks could be set for a new surge

| Alan Oscroft

Lithium stocks have fallen from their 2022 peaks. But over the past few weeks, we've started to see renewed gains.…

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Investing Articles

2 recession-resistant stocks to buy right now

| Alan Oscroft

After the pandemic slump, we're now facing a UK recession. Many are looking for recession-resistant stocks to protect their money.

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Investing Articles

How to invest in shares to help beat inflation

| Alan Oscroft

Soaring prices could well outstrip our investing returns this year. I think it's more important to find shares to beat…

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Investing Articles

Stock of the week: Scottish Mortgage Investment Trust

| Alan Oscroft

Scottish Mortgage Investment trust makes it as my stock of the week, despite a 30% share price fall over the…

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Investing Articles

Is this one of the best value FTSE 100 shares to buy right now?

| Alan Oscroft

I see numerous attractive shares to buy on the UK stock market these days, and it's hard to pick the…

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Investing Articles

Should I buy Rolls-Royce shares while they’re still under £1?

| Alan Oscroft

Rolls-Royce shares have suffered setback after setback. Does the latest weakness give us an even better buying opportunity?

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Young female analyst working at her desk in the office
Investing Articles

Payouts from these top dividend shares are under threat. Are they still buys?

| Alan Oscroft

Analysts have been forecasting yields of 10% and more from some of our biggest dividend shares. But cuts have already…

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Investing Articles

Here’s why I’d invest £10,000 in FTSE 100 shares right now

| Alan Oscroft

It's been a poor century so far for FTSE 100 shares, if actually stronger than it appears. But I think…

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Investing Articles

As the Taylor Wimpey share price gains on rising dividends, here’s why I’d buy

| Alan Oscroft

The Taylor Wimpey share price has fallen 25% over the past 12 months. First-half results make me believe the market…

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Investing Articles

FTSE 100 dividend forecasts are climbing. Here’s what I’d buy now

| Alan Oscroft

According to dividend forecasts, 2022 is shaping up to be one of the best years ever for UK income investors.

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Investing Articles

How interest rates could affect your investments

| Alan Oscroft

Interest rates are climbing as inflation soars. And that's creating stock market uncertainty as the cost of debt rises. Here's…

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Investing Articles

What the stock market might need is a good recession

| Alan Oscroft

Is the US economy in recession? Is the UK economy destined to follow? Long-term stock market investors shouldn't really care.

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Investing Articles

Is this the best time ever to buy UK shares?

| Alan Oscroft

I think I'm seeing increasing signs that UK shares are undervalued right now, and 2022 could be turn out to…

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British Pennies on a Pound Note
Investing Articles

The pros and cons of buying penny shares

| Alan Oscroft

Is it wise to buy penny shares to try to strike it rich? It's easy to lose money, but I…

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Young mixed-race couple sat on the beach looking out over the sea
Investing Articles

Why did the International Consolidated Airlines (IAG) share price climb 10% in July?

| Alan Oscroft

Is the International Consolidated Airlines (IAG) share price finally set for a long-term recovery on the back of a second-quarter…

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Investing Articles

3 cheap income shares to buy in August

| Alan Oscroft

First-half results season is upon us, and we have news from a number of income shares coming our way in…

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Investing Articles

Is this the best time to start a Stocks and Shares ISA ever?

| Alan Oscroft

New investors might be scared to start their first Stocks and Shares ISA during gloomy times like the present. Here's…

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Investing Articles

3 cheap FTSE 250 shares to buy in August?

| Alan Oscroft

As we await results and trading updates from UK stocks in August, I take a look at three FTSE 250…

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Investing Articles

3 cheap FTSE 100 shares to buy in August?

| Alan Oscroft

I'm seeing plenty of FTSE 100 buys these days, but how can we narrow them down? Following results announcements is…

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Investing Articles

3 cheap growth shares to buy after these latest results?

| Alan Oscroft

A number of potential growth shares have slumped in price over the past 12 months. Will the latest results make…

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Happy male couple looking at a laptop screen together
Investing Articles

Time to buy after NatWest share price jump?

| Alan Oscroft

The NatWest share price is gaining ground, boosted by the bank's healthy liquidity position and strengthening full-year outlook.

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Investing Articles

Are these 3 cheap stocks to buy after the latest results?

| Alan Oscroft

Today I examine three companies that have released results this week, and I ask whether I'm looking at cheap stocks…

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Investing Articles

Is it time to buy Centrica shares as British Gas profits soar?

| Alan Oscroft

Centrica shares have climbed strongly over the past 12 months. But they dipped on results day, despite the reinstatement of…

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Investing Articles

As the Barclays share price is held back by a trading blunder, here’s what I’d do

| Alan Oscroft

The Barclays share price has tumbled in 2022, as the sector has suffered. And the costs of rectifying its trading…

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Investing Articles

Can we trust BP’s 5% dividend yield?

| Alan Oscroft

The FTSE 100 is offering a lot of attractive dividend yields right now, with some nice rises on the cards.…

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Close-up of British bank notes
Investing Articles

Is the Lloyds share price finally set to climb, after positive H1 results?

| Alan Oscroft

The Lloyds share price has gained on the back of first-half results, but investors still appear cautious. I think it's…

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Investing Articles

Top tips for a lifetime of passive income investment

| Alan Oscroft

Many of us are pursuing the dream of generating passive income to supplement our wealth. Here's a few tips I've…

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Fans of Warren Buffett taking his photo
Investing Articles

How I’d invest for 10 years using the Warren Buffett method

| Alan Oscroft

Average stock holding periods are falling alarmingly. It's as if today's investors haven't even heard of Warren Buffett and his…

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Investing Articles

Why I think the BT share price could finally be set to take off

| Alan Oscroft

The BT share price has been through a dreadful 10 years. Here's why I think it might have bottomed and…

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Investing Articles

Dividend forecasts make me want to buy these bank shares today

| Alan Oscroft

Despite the gloomy economic outlook, banking sector dividend forecasts are looking strong. And first-half updates will be with us soon.

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Investing Articles

3 cheap growth shares to buy right now

| Alan Oscroft

I see plenty of cheap-looking growth shares out there right now. They all come with their own risks, but I…

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Investing Articles

3 cheap income shares to buy right now

| Alan Oscroft

When share prices fall, they can push dividend yields up. And periods of stock market weakness can be great times…

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Investing Articles

Here’s why I just bought Scottish Mortgage Investment Trust shares

| Alan Oscroft

Scottish Mortgage Investment Trust shares have been falling hard, as many of the US companies it holds are suffering in…

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Entrepreneur on the phone.
Investing Articles

Today’s record FTSE 100 share buybacks are making me want to buy too

| Alan Oscroft

Are FTSE 100 share buybacks a good indicator of shares to buy? Not on their own, but I think they…

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Investing Articles

Why I think the Rolls-Royce share price could be set to climb

| Alan Oscroft

The Rolls-Royce share price has remained depressed for a good bit longer than I'd expected, while others have been recovering…

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Stack of British pound coins falling on list of share prices
Investing Articles

My Stocks and Shares ISA is in the red, and I couldn’t be happier

| Alan Oscroft

Investors are typically unhappy when their Stocks and Shares ISA falls in value. Warren Buffett says that's a mistake, and…

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Investing Articles

How can I invest in the UK’s fastest growing sectors?

| Alan Oscroft

As we emerge from the pandemic and into economic crisis, it's not easy deciding how to invest in tomorrow's top…

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Investing Articles

Do today’s bumper FTSE 250 share buybacks mean it’s time to invest?

| Alan Oscroft

Investors might be bearish over the financial and construction sectors. But these FTSE 250 share buybacks suggest the companies aren't.

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Electric cars charging at a charging station
Investing Articles

Which UK lithium shares are producing and which aren’t?

| Alan Oscroft

Despite growing demand for the metal used in electric vehicle batteries, UK lithium shares have been through a bit of…

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pensive bearded business man sitting on chair looking out of the window
Investing Articles

Does the Admiral share price fall make it a no-brainer buy now?

| Alan Oscroft

The Admiral share price had been starting to pick up in July, after a lengthy period of weakness in the…

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