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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

A couple celebrating moving in to a new home
Investing Articles

3 FTSE 100 shares to buy in July

| Alan Oscroft

Looking for income, growth, or just good old-fashioned value? I think I'm seeing examples of all three among FTSE 100…

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Close-up of British bank notes
Investing Articles

How I’d target £1,000 per month in passive income

| Alan Oscroft

How can we learn about investing for long-term passive income? I think the best way is to examine how the…

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happy senior couple using a laptop in their living room to look at their financial budgets
Investing Articles

After the Prudential share price falls 33%, am I seeing a no-brainer buy?

| Alan Oscroft

The Prudential share price was looking set for recovery in 2021. It's headed back down in 2022, and once again…

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Investing Articles

The BAE Systems share price is soaring. Time to buy?

| Alan Oscroft

I've thought of the BAE Systems share price as too low for years. And even now it's on the way…

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Young brown woman delighted with what she sees on her screen
Investing Articles

3 cheap shares to buy after 50% falls?

| Alan Oscroft

Falling stock markets mean cheap shares, right? It's still very important to focus on valuation, and look to the future…

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Investing Articles

After the Petropavlovsk share price has crashed 95%, who’s buying?

| Alan Oscroft

The Petropavlovsk share price has plunged to low penny share territory, with the Russia-based gold miner being crushed by Ukraine…

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Asian Indian male white collar worker on wheelchair having video conference with his business partners
Investing Articles

As the Royal Mail share price falls 50%, do I see a no-brainer buy?

| Alan Oscroft

The Royal Mail share price had a cracking year in 2021. But this year, it's crashed again. Is its low…

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Investing Articles

Which are better, Dividend Aristocrats or Heroes?

| Alan Oscroft

Dividend Aristocrats and Dividend Heroes are two different classifications, in different countries, to help investors find great long-term income stocks.

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Investing Articles

My Stocks & Shares ISA has slumped. Here’s why I’m loving it

| Alan Oscroft

I've invested through a number of stock market downturns, and in 2022 my Stocks and Shares ISA is dipping again.…

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Investing Articles

Why this could be the best year for stock market investors in a decade

| Alan Oscroft

What makes a year a good one for stock market investors, and what makes it bad? It's not what a…

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Playful senior couple in aprons dancing and smiling while preparing healthy dinner at home
Investing Articles

5 top tips for a lifetime of passive income

| Alan Oscroft

Our shaky economic outlook right now is strengthening my focus on maintaining a long-term, passive income investment strategy.

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Investing Articles

Will the stock market crash in 2022?

| Alan Oscroft

In these days of increasing fear, with doom-mongers banging on about a stock market crash almost every day, those with…

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

Does the Scottish Mortgage (SMT) share price make it a no-brainer buy now?

| Alan Oscroft

The Scottish Mortgage Investment Trust (LON: SMT) share price has taken a hammering in 2022, as investors have deserted tech…

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Investing Articles

Are Lloyds shares a no-brainer buy at 42p?

| Alan Oscroft

Lloyds shares have given up their early 2022 gains and have plunged again. How resilient will the bank be in…

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Young black woman walking in Central London for shopping
Investing Articles

After ASOS shares fell 30%, are we looking at a no-brainer buy?

| Alan Oscroft

ASOS shares have been priced at lofty growth share valuations in recent years. But that's history now, and they might…

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Investing Articles

Is time running out to buy Rolls-Royce shares for less than £1?

| Alan Oscroft

Rolls-Royce shares are still being hammered after the pandemic. So why am I optimistic against a background of economic and…

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Investing Articles

Down 65% in 12 months, is the Deliveroo share price set to climb now?

| Alan Oscroft

The best time to buy is often when everyone else is selling. The Deliveroo share price fall is inspiring the…

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Investing Articles

How long do bear markets last on average?

| Alan Oscroft

The S&P 500 is in bear market territory, though the FTSE 100 is holding up. But what should investors do…

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Investing Articles

The FTSE 100 is set for record share buybacks. Time to buy?

| Alan Oscroft

Why do FTSE 100 companies buy back their own shares rather than handing over spare cash as extra dividends? And…

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Investing Articles

Could I double my money with easyJet shares?

| Alan Oscroft

I usually don't buy airline stocks as the business is so tough. But after the easyJet share price fall, I'm…

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Investing Articles

3 cheap FTSE 250 shares to buy with £5,000 today

| Alan Oscroft

The FTSE 250 has had a poor year. But when the market is down, I think that's a great time…

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Investing Articles

5 UK dividend shares with yields of 8%+

| Alan Oscroft

As stock markets are falling, I'm seeing a lot of increasingly attractive dividend shares out there. Today, I examine five…

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Engineer Project Manager Talks With Scientist working on Computer
Investing Articles

The best UK biotech shares to buy today

| Alan Oscroft

A lot of UK biotech shares have fallen over the past 12 months as the Covid effect recedes. I reckon…

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Playful senior couple in aprons dancing and smiling while preparing healthy dinner at home
Investing Articles

Here’s my plan to make passive income with just £50 a month

| Alan Oscroft

It's not just wealthy people who can enjoy a passive income. I think anybody can do it, starting small and…

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Happy young female stock-picker in a cafe
Investing Articles

Can I double my money with Woodbois shares?

| Alan Oscroft

The Woodbois share price has already climbed more than 80% from its 52-week low. Could there be a further doubling…

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Smiling young man sitting in cafe and checking messages, with his laptop in front of him.
Investing Articles

Can I double my money with BT shares?

| Alan Oscroft

After the dividends were reinstated for 2022, BT shares could be looking more attractive again. What's the chance of a…

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Asian Indian male white collar worker on wheelchair having video conference with his business partners
Investing Articles

5 fallen FTSE 100 shares to buy in June

| Alan Oscroft

Volatile months on the FTSE 100 mean only one thing to me: buying opportunities. Here are five shares I rate…

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Sixed group of millennial aged friends discuss investing
Investing Articles

5 ‘no-brainer’ investment trusts to buy right now

| Alan Oscroft

Investment trusts are a great way to diversify, while seeking specific strategies. Here's a way to narrow down the choice.

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Investing Articles

Stocks and Shares ISAs are falling, but that means more buying opportunities

| Alan Oscroft

The past year has seen many Stocks and Shares ISA portfolios drop in value. I say that's good news for…

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Investing Articles

Can I double my money with Lloyds shares?

| Alan Oscroft

My investment in Lloyds shares hasn't made me rich yet. But with the share price hammered, is my money set…

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British Pennies on a Pound Note
Investing Articles

How to get rich buying penny shares… or lose money trying!

| Alan Oscroft

Penny shares, those priced at less than 100p, have been popular with investors for years. Are they really such a…

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

Why the Scottish Mortgage share price fell 11% in May

| Alan Oscroft

With tech stocks plummeting, the Scottish Mortgage share price fell further in May. Is it time to buy while it's…

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

Why the Woodbois share price soared and fell in May

| Alan Oscroft

The Woodbois share price climbed to a year's high in May, before falling back. What was behind the month's ups…

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Investing Articles

5 passive income shares to buy with £5,000 today

| Alan Oscroft

What's the best way to start a passive income portfolio today? Here are five shares I think investors should consider.

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Investing Articles

Are Darktrace shares a ‘no-brainer’ growth buy right now?

| Alan Oscroft

Darktrace shares have slumped since their peak in late 2021, amid some bad publicity. I'm wondering if I'm seeing a…

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Investing Articles

Is now a good time to buy FTSE 100 shares?

| Alan Oscroft

With economic conditions worsening, many people are understandably worried about investing in FTSE 100 shares right now.

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Close-up of British bank notes
Investing Articles

Is now a good time to buy dividend shares?

| Alan Oscroft

As economic pressures increase, concerns are growing over dividend shares. Here's why I think it's right to buy now, not…

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Fans of Warren Buffett taking his photo
Investing Articles

How to invest like Warren Buffett to beat a stock market fall

| Alan Oscroft

Warren Buffett has been investing heavily in new stocks. I've been examining his buys, to help me narrow down my…

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Investing Articles

5 UK penny shares to buy with £5,000 today

| Alan Oscroft

It's hard to remember a time when there were as many tempting penny shares around as now. Here are five…

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Investing Articles

3 reasons to sell Lloyds shares today

| Alan Oscroft

The Lloyds share price is falling again, as economic conditions worsen. I've been examining my investment case and wondering whether…

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