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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

Long-term vs short-term investing concept on a staircase
Investing Articles

A 10% yield but down 32%! Is this FTSE stock now too cheap to ignore?

| Simon Watkins

This FTSE 100 stock pays some of the highest dividends in the index and is very undervalued compared to its…

Read more »

2024 year number handwritten on a sandy beach at sunrise
Investing Articles

One dividend giant I’d buy over Aviva shares for 2024

| Simon Watkins

Heading into 2024, Aviva shares still look like a good buy to me, but I think right now another high-yielding…

Read more »

Long-term vs short-term investing concept on a staircase
Investing Articles

Time for me to buy more as Shell’s share price dips 10% on oil prices?

| Simon Watkins

Shell’s share price looks very undervalued compared to its peers, and it remains well-positioned in both the fossil fuel and…

Read more »

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

Is FTSE 100 firm Legal & General a no-brainer stock for dividend investors in 2024?

| Simon Watkins

Down 11% this year, but with a high yield, and undervalued compared to its peers, this FTSE 100 stock looks…

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

An 8.4% yield but down 27%! This FTSE 250 hidden gem looks cheap to me

| Simon Watkins

Recently demoted to the FTSE 250, this high-quality business has good growth prospects, pays big dividends, and is undervalued compared…

Read more »

2024 year number handwritten on a sandy beach at sunrise
Investing Articles

Better FTSE bank buy for 2024: NatWest or Lloyds?

| Simon Watkins

Both of these heavyweight FTSE shares look like good potential buys to me, but one looks like an especially attractive…

Read more »

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

£6,000 of savings? Here’s how I’d try to turn that into £515 a month of passive income

| Simon Watkins

Reinvesting the dividends paid from high-yielding stocks into more high-paying shares can generate significant passive income over time.

Read more »

Long-term vs short-term investing concept on a staircase
Investing Articles

Should I buy this fallen FTSE 100 passive income star for 2024?

| Simon Watkins

This FTSE 100 heavyweight pays high dividends, looks very undervalued, and should benefit from China’s ongoing recovery in 2024.

Read more »

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

One dividend giant I’d buy over Aviva shares

| Simon Watkins

Aviva shares still look a good buy to me, but I think right now another high-yielding dividend stock looks even…

Read more »

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

Is this hidden passive income gem the best bargain in the FTSE now?

| Simon Watkins

This heavyweight FTSE 100 firm is undervalued compared to its peers on three key measures, is strong in the commodities…

Read more »

A pastel colored growing graph with rising rocket.
Investing Articles

£12,000 of savings? Here’s how I’d try and turn that into £547 a month of passive income

| Simon Watkins

Reinvesting the dividends paid from high-yielding stocks into more high-paying shares can generate significant passive income over time.

Read more »

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

A 9.6% yield but down 11%! This FTSE 100 stock looks cheap to me

| Simon Watkins

This FTSE 100 financial stock looks poised for growth, is undervalued to its peer group, and pays a whopping yield…

Read more »

Side of boat fuelled by gas to liquids, advertising Shell GTL Fuel
Investing Articles

Is Shell’s share price set to soar on OPEC cuts and new fields?

| Simon Watkins

Shell’s share price is undervalued compared to its peers, but ongoing cuts in oil supply and new oil and gas…

Read more »

Long-term vs short-term investing concept on a staircase
Investing Articles

An 8.5% yield but down 15%! This FTSE 100 gem looks cheap to me

| Simon Watkins

This FTSE 100 firm was hit by a crisis that never was, but its shares are still marked down, despite…

Read more »

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

£10,000 of savings? Here’s how I’d try and turn that into £537 a month of passive income

| Simon Watkins

Reinvesting the dividends paid from high-yielding stocks into more high-paying shares can generate significant passive income over time.

Read more »

Branch of NatWest bank
Investing Articles

Down 34%! Is this FTSE 100 heavyweight now just too cheap to ignore?

| Simon Watkins

This FTSE 100 stock was battered on fears of a crisis that never happened and on another of its own…

Read more »

White female supervisor working at an oil rig
Investing Articles

Down 15%! Is the BP share price now too cheap to ignore?

| Simon Watkins

The BP share price now looks very undervalued to its peers, ignoring the fact that the company remains a huge…

Read more »

Midnight is celebrated along the River Thames in London with a spectacular and colourful firework display.
Investing Articles

I’d aim for £1m from £446 a month invested in high-yield FTSE shares

| Simon Watkins

With just 20% of the UK average salary invested monthly in high-yield FTSE stocks, a £1m portfolio can be built…

Read more »

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

£7,500 of savings? Here’s how I’d turn that into £594 a month of passive income!

| Simon Watkins

Investing the average UK savings account balance in carefully selected high-yielding FTSE 100 stocks could make me £594 a month…

Read more »

Investor looking at stock graph on a tablet with their finger hovering over the Buy button
Investing Articles

Is this the best bargain in the FTSE 100?

| Simon Watkins

This FTSE 100 commodities trading giant looks undervalued to its peers and pays a very healthy dividend to generate high…

Read more »

Long-term vs short-term investing concept on a staircase
Investing Articles

An 8.9% yield but down 31%! This FTSE 250 stock looks cheap to me

| Simon Watkins

FTSE 250 investment manager abrdn saw an automatic devaluation when it was relegated from the FTSE 100 but it looks…

Read more »

Middle-aged white man wearing glasses, staring into space over the top of his laptop in a coffee shop
Investing Articles

A 7.7% yield but down 18%! This FTSE gem looks cheap to me

| Simon Watkins

This high-yielding FTSE heavyweight already looks good value and could surge if China’s economic recovery continues.

Read more »

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

10%+ yield! Should I buy more Phoenix Group shares for passive income?

| Simon Watkins

Phoenix Group belongs to an elite group of FTSE 100 shares that yield over 10% and it's underpinned by a…

Read more »

Side of boat fuelled by gas to liquids, advertising Shell GTL Fuel
Investing Articles

Time for me to buy more of this FTSE 100 star after Q3 results?

| Simon Watkins

This FTSE 100 oil and gas giant looks undervalued to me from several perspectives and is still 5% lower than…

Read more »

A pastel colored growing graph with rising rocket.
Investing Articles

A 9.9% yield but down 14%! This FTSE hidden gem looks a bargain to me

| Simon Watkins

This FTSE investment manager has high growth potential, is undervalued to its peers, and pays a stunning 9.9% yield.

Read more »

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

From £3.67 saved a day to £500 a month in passive income? Here’s how!

| Simon Watkins

Sizeable passive income for life can be built up from very small savings amounts made regularly, due to the magic…

Read more »

Workers at Whiting refinery, US
Investing Articles

Time for me to buy more as the BP share price dips on Q3 results?

| Simon Watkins

The BP share price fell as Q3 results missed net income forecasts, but it operates in a bullish trading space…

Read more »

Aviva logo on glass meeting room door
Investing Articles

Under £4 but yielding 7.8%, is the Aviva share price a bargain?

| Simon Watkins

The Aviva share price is significantly undervalued to its peers, despite its great core business, and provides a high passive…

Read more »

Branch of NatWest bank
Investing Articles

Down 42% this year! Is this now the best bargain in the FTSE 100?

| Simon Watkins

This FTSE 100 stock’s share price growth lags that of its earnings per share. It's undervalued to its peers, and…

Read more »

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

2 dirt cheap FTSE 100 stocks I bought for big passive income flows

| Simon Watkins

The FTSE 100 is where it was back in March 2017, limiting growth opportunities. But high-yielding stocks can still generate…

Read more »

Businesswoman calculating finances in an office
Investing Articles

An 11.5% yield but down 32%! Is this the best bargain in the FTSE 100?

| Simon Watkins

Down a third in price this year but undervalued compared to its peers, and with a high yield, this FTSE…

Read more »

Concept of two young professional men looking at a screen in a technological data centre
Investing Articles

A 9.9% yield but down 26%, this FTSE 100 stock looks a bargain to me

| Simon Watkins

This FTSE 100 heavyweight looks a bargain to me. It has a dynamic core business, is undervalued against its peers,…

Read more »

Photo of a man going through financial problems
Investing Articles

From £0 in the bank to a second income of £46,958 for life? Here’s how

| Simon Watkins

Even for those with nothing in the bank, saving just £5 per day every day could result in a £45k+…

Read more »

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

Is this overlooked FTSE heavyweight set to soar on latest China data?

| Simon Watkins

With better-than-expected economic data from China, a great core business, and high dividend yields, is it time to buy this…

Read more »

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

An 8.9% yield but down 19%! This FTSE star looks a passive income gem

| Simon Watkins

Down 19% this year, but with a strong core business, a high yield, and undervalued to its peers, this stock…

Read more »

Investor looking at stock graph on a tablet with their finger hovering over the Buy button
Investing Articles

Is it too late for investors to consider buying this FTSE 100 star?

| Simon Watkins

Despite being near a seven-month high, this FTSE 100 star appears undervalued, recently increased its dividends, and works in a…

Read more »

Bearded man writing on notepad in front of computer
Investing Articles

With the Aviva share price over £4, should investors consider buying?

| Simon Watkins

Despite rising above £4 per share, FTSE 100-star Aviva is undervalued to its peers, has great growth prospects, and I…

Read more »

Middle-aged white man wearing glasses, staring into space over the top of his laptop in a coffee shop
Investing Articles

A 9% yield but down 32%, this FTSE financial stock looks cheap to me

| Simon Watkins

Recently demoted from the FTSE 100, this is still a high-quality business, with good growth prospects. It's undervalued to its…

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

A 10.2% yield but down 16%! This looks a FTSE passive income gem to me

| Simon Watkins

Down 16% from March, but with a strong core business, a high yield, and undervalued to its peers, this stock…

Read more »

White female supervisor working at an oil rig
Investing Articles

Is it too late for investors to consider buying this FTSE 100 star?

| Simon Watkins

This FTSE 100 powerhouse posted great 2022 results, is well positioned for rising oil prices, and is still very undervalued…

Read more »