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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

Is there any value left in Tesco’s near-12-month-high share price after its Q1 trading update?

| Simon Watkins

Tesco’s share price is trading around a one-year high after the 12 June release of its Q1 trading update, so…

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

Is this FTSE 100 passive income gem’s share price set to soar after huge new partnership deal?

| Simon Watkins

This often-overlooked FTSE 100 financial star has signed a massive new cooperation deal, which could usher in enormous extra revenues…

Read more »

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

Under £14 now, Persimmon’s share price is trading at less than half its fair value by my reckoning

| Simon Watkins

Persimmon’s share price fell a lot over the past year, but I think a new home-building initiative and improved macroeconomic…

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Investing Articles

Is this FTSE 100 pharma gem now a brilliant bargain?

| Simon Watkins

This FTSE 100 pharmaceutical giant has been hit by fears of US tariffs and litigation over a key product, but…

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Investing Articles

I bought 3,048 shares in this FTSE 250 high-yielder in 2023. Here’s how much dividend income I’ve had since…

| Simon Watkins

This FTSE 250 investment manager was demoted from the FTSE 100 in 2023 and I bought it for two key…

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Investing Articles

At a bargain-basement valuation now, is AstraZeneca’s share price impossible for me to ignore?

| Simon Watkins

AstraZeneca’s share price has fallen a lot from its September high, but this could mean a tremendous opportunity for me…

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Investing Articles

Down 53% on poor results, is now a great time for investors to consider this FTSE airline stock?

| Simon Watkins

This FTSE airline stock has plummeted over the last year, not helped by recent results. But is now exactly the…

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

Down 24%, will new Caspian Sea deals kickstart a BP share price rally?

| Simon Watkins

BP’s share price has been hit by lower oil prices and its previous renewable energy focus, but could huge new…

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Artillery rocket system aimed to the sky and soldiers at sunset.
Investing Articles

Should I buy more BAE Systems shares at just over £19?

| Simon Watkins

BAE Systems shares soared after Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022, but I think there's still a lot more value left…

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Investing Articles

Here’s what £17,000 invested 1 year ago in this FTSE 100 passive income gem is worth now…

| Simon Watkins

This often-overlooked FTSE 100 savings and retirement giant pays one of the highest yields in the index, which can generate…

Read more »

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Investing Articles

Are Lloyds shares worth investors considering around a 10-year price high?

| Simon Watkins

Lloyds shares have risen 43% over the year, driven mainly by an ongoing programme of aggressive share buybacks. So are…

Read more »

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Investing Articles

£17,000 in savings? Here’s how investors could target £8,453 of annual passive income from this FTSE 100 heavyweight!

| Simon Watkins

Shares in this FTSE 100 stock have a much higher dividend yield than the index average and can generate potentially…

Read more »

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Investing Articles

Despite hitting a near-14-year high, this FTSE 250 defence superstar still looks 32% under its ‘fair value’ to me!

| Simon Watkins

Shares in this FTSE 250 world leader in several hi-tech defence sectors are trading near a 14-year high. But I…

Read more »

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Investing Articles

Down 15% from its year high, is Shell’s share price too cheap for me to pass up?

| Simon Watkins

Shell’s share price has simply tracked the trading pattern of the benchmark oil price in recent months, but I think…

Read more »

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Investing Articles

Here’s what £11,000 invested 5 years ago in Legal & General shares is worth now…

| Simon Watkins

Legal & General shares remain among the highest dividend-yielders in any FTSE index, and analysts forecast their yield and price…

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Investing Articles

Despite strong results and solid earnings growth forecasts, this FTSE high-flyer looks overvalued to me

| Simon Watkins

This much-fancied FTSE 100 firm posted good H1 2025 results recently, which pushed its share price higher, but it now…

Read more »

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

Trading near a 12-year high, is Barclays’ share price rally only just getting started?

| Simon Watkins

Barclays’ share price has soared in recent years, which may discourage some investors from considering buying the stock. But I…

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Investing Articles

Here’s how investors could target £3,453 a year in passive income from 326 shares in this FTSE 100 insurance giant

| Simon Watkins

Shares in this major insurer deliver an extremely healthy dividend yield that could generate potentially life-changing passive income over time.

Read more »

Chalkboard representation of risk versus reward on a pair of scales
Investing Articles

Is this FTSE 100 stock now an ideal short-term risk/long-term reward play?

| Simon Watkins

This FTSE 100 stock has been pushed down from its 12-month traded high by one short-term factor, but its long-term…

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Rolls-Royce engineer working on an engine
Investing Articles

Up 104% in a year, how high could Rolls-Royce’s share price still go?

| Simon Watkins

Rolls-Royce’s share price has soared over the past year, but there could still be enormous value left in it. I…

Read more »

Jumbo jet preparing to take off on a runway at sunset
Investing Articles

Is it time for investors to consider easyJet after a dip in its share price on mixed H1 2025 results?

| Simon Watkins

EasyJet’s share price has dipped 5% following its recent results, so could this be a good time to consider the…

Read more »

Artillery rocket system aimed to the sky and soldiers at sunset.
Investing Articles

With a new £1.54bn deal and 78% forecast annual earnings growth, is it time for investors to consider this FTSE 250 defence star?

| Simon Watkins

Despite a doubling in the price of this FTSE 250 defence firm, I think its huge forecast earnings growth makes…

Read more »

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

Is this high-flying FTSE tech star too good an opportunity for me to ignore after H1 results?

| Simon Watkins

This FTSE tech stock has risen significantly over the year and posted solid-looking results recently. So, is it worth me…

Read more »

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

Following its promising 2025 results, does BT’s sub-£2 share price look a bargain to me? 

| Simon Watkins

BT’s share price is close to its recent one-year high, which may deter many investors from considering it. But there…

Read more »

Chalkboard representation of risk versus reward on a pair of scales
Investing Articles

Do National Grid shares look like they’re worth me buying at just under £11 after 2024/25 results?

| Simon Watkins

National Grid shares have risen a lot since June, which begs the question of how much value is left in…

Read more »

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

Here’s what £10,000 invested 5 years ago in this FTSE 100 passive income superstar is worth now…

| Simon Watkins

This FTSE 100 financial giant has been one of the top passive income generating stocks in any major FTSE index,…

Read more »

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

Around a 1-year high at 78p, is there any value left in Vodafone’s share price?

| Simon Watkins

Vodafone’s share price is trading around a 12-month high following the 20 May release of promising 2025 results. So is…

Read more »

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Investing Articles

This FTSE 250 broadcaster is down 11% but has a 6.4% yield. Should investors consider buying on the dip?

| Simon Watkins

Shares in this FTSE 250 terrestrial and digital media firm have lost ground this year, but could this provide an…

Read more »

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Investing Articles

A 7.2% forecast yield and 35% under ‘fair value’, should I buy more Aviva shares after the strong trading update?

| Simon Watkins

FTSE 100 insurer Aviva’s Q1 2025 results looked very good to me, highlighting the major undervaluation I have seen in…

Read more »

piggy bank, searching with binoculars
Investing Articles

A 5.4% yield but down 11%, is it time for me to buy more of this FTSE heavyweight stock?

| Simon Watkins

This FTSE 100 heavy-hitter generates a good yield, looks significantly undervalued to me, and projects solid growth in the next…

Read more »

Trader on video call from his home office
Investing Articles

Down 48% to just over £2.50, Glencore’s share price looks a bargain to me anywhere under £4.17

| Simon Watkins

Glencore’s share price has fallen a lot this year, which may mean a major bargain to be had. I took…

Read more »

DIVIDEND YIELD text written on a notebook with chart
Investing Articles

Here’s how investors can target £6,717 a year in passive income from a £5,500 holding in this FTSE 100 dividend gem!

| Simon Watkins

This FTSE 100 dividend star has one of the highest yields in any of the FTSE’s major indexes and looks…

Read more »

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

Following strong Q1 results, is now the time for me to buy more of this FTSE 100 banking star?

| Simon Watkins

This FTSE 100 financial giant posted excellent Q1 results recently, leaving its share price looking even more undervalued to me…

Read more »

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

Another strong set of results for Next, but does its share price look too expensive to me now?

| Simon Watkins

Next recently released another strong set of results, which pushed its share price up. I decided to analyse it to…

Read more »

Front view of aircraft in flight.
Investing Articles

Down 14% from February, could IAG’s share price soar after stunning Q1 results? 

| Simon Watkins

IAG’s share price has fallen over the past few months, but another set of strong results and good earnings forecasts…

Read more »

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

BT’s share price is up 45% from its 1-year high, but I think much more value remains…

| Simon Watkins

BT’s share price is up on the year, but a lot of value could still be left in the shares.…

Read more »

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

Down 15% despite strong earnings forecasts, should investors consider this FTSE medical tech giant?

| Simon Watkins

This FTSE 100 medical equipment manufacturer is forecast to see excellent earnings growth in the next three years and looks…

Read more »

Satellite on planet background
Investing Articles

Down 7%, is BAE Systems’ share price an unmissable bargain for me, especially after its Q1 trading update?

| Simon Watkins

BAE Systems’ share price has dipped recently, despite a strong update for the first quarter, leaving it looking even more…

Read more »

A pastel colored growing graph with rising rocket.
Investing Articles

Here’s how investors could target £9,518 a year in passive income from a £10,000 stake in this FTSE 100 dividend gem!

| Simon Watkins

Investing in high-yielding stocks such as this with the returns used to buy more of the shares can generate life-changing…

Read more »

Rolls-Royce engineer working on an engine
Investing Articles

Here’s how much £11,000 invested in Rolls-Royce shares a year ago would be worth today…

| Simon Watkins

Rolls-Royce shares have made huge returns over the past year, but can this continue? I took a deep dive into…

Read more »