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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

Businessman hand stacking money coins with virtual percentage icons
Investing Articles

Down 26% to under £17! What on earth’s going on with Greggs shares right now?

| Simon Watkins

Greggs shares are trading at a deep discount to their ‘fair value’, despite record sales -- that gap could be…

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DIVIDEND YIELD text written on a notebook with chart
Investing Articles

Here’s how £20,000 in this overlooked FTSE gem could make investors £9,089 in annual dividend income over time

| Simon Watkins

This FTSE income stock’s yield is already eye‑catching, but analyst forecasts hint the real gains may still be ahead for…

Read more »

A pastel colored growing graph with rising rocket.
Investing Articles

64% under ‘fair value’ with 36% annual forecast earnings growth! 1 overlooked FTSE 250 gem to buy today?

| Simon Watkins

This overlooked FTSE 250 retailer has quietly rebuilt itself into a profit machine, but the market hasn’t noticed. The valuation…

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

I’m targeting £9,089 a year in dividends from £20,000 in this powerhouse FTSE income share

| Simon Watkins

This heavyweight FTSE income share offers a rising payout and a valuation that looks primed for a catch‑up, giving investors…

Read more »

piggy bank, searching with binoculars
Investing Articles

Around £5 now, here’s why this overlooked FTSE 100 heavyweight seems a bargain to me anywhere below £10.92

| Simon Watkins

This FTSE 100 commodities giant is powering into a major revival, yet the market still prices it like a laggard,…

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A pastel colored growing graph with rising rocket.
Investing Articles

£20,000 invested in Barclays shares 2 years ago is now worth…

| Simon Watkins

Barclays shares have surged 134% since April 2024 — but the bank’s strong fundamentals, huge cash generation, and valuation gap…

Read more »

ISA coins
Investing Articles

How big must an ISA be to aim for a £15,000+ a year second income?

| Simon Watkins

This FTSE investment gem could generate huge returns over time in a Stocks and Shares ISA, exempt from income and…

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

Down 17% to under £5! Here’s why this overlooked FTSE 250 defence gem looks a bargain anywhere below £6.12

| Simon Watkins

FTSE 250 defence firm QinetiQ is stacking billions in long‑cycle contracts, yet its share price looks fast asleep — and…

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DIVIDEND YIELD text written on a notebook with chart
Investing Articles

A 9% dividend yield! 1 dirt-cheap FTSE 100 passive income gem to snap up today?

| Simon Watkins

This FTSE stock offers huge passive income, looks deeply undervalued, and has strong forecast earnings growth -- making it too…

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A pastel colored growing graph with rising rocket.
Investing Articles

A 7.1% forecast yield and 51% below ‘fair value’! 1 of my top FTSE stocks to buy right now

| Simon Watkins

This FTSE giant is rarely seen as one of the obvious stocks to buy for dividend and price gains, but…

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Businessman hand stacking money coins with virtual percentage icons
Investing Articles

£20,000 invested in HSBC shares 2 years ago is now worth…

| Simon Watkins

HSBC shares have doubled in two years — but with key profitability targets raised, the latest numbers hint the real…

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Finger clicking a button marked 'Buy' on a keyboard
Investing Articles

57% under ‘fair value’ and 74% forecast earnings growth! 1 FTSE high-tech med stock I just can’t pass up

| Simon Watkins

This FTSE high‑tech innovator’s earnings look set to soar -- yet it’s still priced as a risky biotech. The disconnect…

Read more »

Stacks of coins
Investing Articles

I’m aiming for £9,945 in annual dividend income from 719 shares in this FTSE 100 gem

| Simon Watkins

Analysts expect this FTSE 100 dividend star's earnings will keep rising, driving up its dividend yield. So, can it keep…

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

£20,000 invested in BP shares 1 year ago is now worth…

| Simon Watkins

BP shares have rocketed in the past 12 months, yet analysts think the real growth story is only just beginning,…

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A pastel colored growing graph with rising rocket.
Investing Articles

A 6.8% forecast yield! 1 often-overlooked FTSE 100 income stock to buy today?

| Simon Watkins

This income stock offers a high forecast yield and strengthening momentum, yet many investors overlook it — creating a rare…

Read more »

GSK scientist holding lab syringe
Investing Articles

GSK’s share price is under £22, but with a ‘fair value’ much higher, is it time for me to buy more right now? 

| Simon Watkins

GSK’s share price rose over the last year, but a huge gap remains between its price and fair value —…

Read more »

Businessman hand stacking money coins with virtual percentage icons
Investing Articles

Here’s how investors can aim for £11,363 a year in passive income from £20,000 in this overlooked FTSE media gem

| Simon Watkins

I think this media stock is commonly overlooked by investors looking for high passive income, but it shouldn’t be, given…

Read more »

DIVIDEND YIELD text written on a notebook with chart
Investing Articles

A 9.1% forecast yield! 1 under-the-radar FTSE income share to buy today?

| Simon Watkins

This high-yielding income share is a rare find in today’s FTSE market and looks a standout opportunity for savvy investors…

Read more »

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

Down 11% and 26% under ‘fair value’! 1 of the best FTSE defence stocks to buy today?

| Simon Watkins

This FTSE 250 high-tech defence star looks deeply undervalued as global military spending surges. Is this a rare opportunity before…

Read more »

Investing Articles

£20,000 invested in the FTSE’s Rio Tinto a year ago is now worth…

| Simon Watkins

This FTSE commodities giant has surged 69% in a year — but its strong fundamentals, huge cash generation, and valuation…

Read more »

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

Down 23% to around £5! Here’s why this overlooked FTSE 100 defence gem ‘should’ be trading over £11

| Simon Watkins

This little-known FTSE 100 aerospace and defence company’s true worth has raced ahead of its share price — and the…

Read more »

Female Tesco employee holding produce crate
Investing Articles

Under £5 now! Here’s why I think Tesco’s share price should be trading closer to £7

| Simon Watkins

Tesco’s share price looks too cheap to me for a business growing profits, boosting cash flow and undertaking buybacks at…

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A pastel colored growing graph with rising rocket.
Investing Articles

£20,000 invested in BT shares 2 years ago is today worth…

| Simon Watkins

BT shares have doubled in price over two years — yet the valuation still looks low. Here’s why the next…

Read more »

Stacks of coins
Investing Articles

I’m targeting £15,401 in yearly dividends from £20,000 in this FTSE passive income heavyweight

| Simon Watkins

Analysts expect this FTSE 100 gem to keep increasing dividends and generating strong earnings growth. So can it keep turbocharging…

Read more »

Businessman hand stacking money coins with virtual percentage icons
Investing Articles

£20,000 invested in AstraZeneca shares 5 years ago is now worth…

| Simon Watkins

AstraZeneca shares have more than doubled since 2021 -- but they still look very undervalued. Here’s why forecast earnings growth…

Read more »

A pastel colored growing graph with rising rocket.
Investing Articles

How can I target £14,132 a year in dividend income from a £20,000 holding in this FTSE 250 dividend gem?

| Simon Watkins

This FTSE 250 dividend heavyweight keeps generating market-beating yields, with forecasts of more to come as earnings momentum continues to…

Read more »

Nottingham Giltbrook Exterior
Investing Articles

Marks and Spencer’s share price is down 16% to below £4! Is now the time for me to buy the dip with an eye to £8+?

| Simon Watkins

Marks and Spencer’s share price has dipped, but is the market missing a far bigger story? The latest numbers hint…

Read more »

Businessman hand stacking money coins with virtual percentage icons
Investing Articles

I’m targeting an £8,299 annual income from £20,000 in this transformed FTSE energy star!

| Simon Watkins

This FTSE energy firm has transformed since 2024, creating a deeply undervalued and high-yielding proposition that many investors overlook, in…

Read more »

Finger clicking a button marked 'Buy' on a keyboard
Investing Articles

47% under ‘fair’ value, with 9% annual forecast earnings growth! 1 FTSE 100 gem to buy today?

| Simon Watkins

This FTSE 100 financial giant is 18% off its highs. With profits surging and returns climbing, could the market be…

Read more »

Trader on video call from his home office
Investing Articles

Down 19%! Here’s why Barclays shares look a serious bargain to me right now

| Simon Watkins

Barclays shares have slumped recently, but a big gap between price and fair value has opened, offering nimble long-term investors…

Read more »

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

£20,000 invested in BAE Systems shares 4 years ago is now worth…

| Simon Watkins

BAE Systems' shares have soared since 2022, yet rising NATO budgets are just starting to feed through, so the real…

Read more »

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

A 6.3% forecast yield! 1 bargain-basement FTSE passive income gem to buy today?  

| Simon Watkins

This FTSE 100 passive income star has delivered consistently high dividends, with analysts forecasting more to come, and it looks…

Read more »

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

A 9.2% forecast yield and 59% undervalued! 1 dirt cheap FTSE income gem to buy today? 

| Simon Watkins

This dependable, asset‑light FTSE income share yields 8.3%, which is forecast to rise, and looks deeply undervalued, driven by strong…

Read more »

A pastel colored growing graph with rising rocket.
Investing Articles

Down 19% to under £1, here’s why Lloyds shares look a bargain to me anywhere up to £1.80

| Simon Watkins

Lloyds' shares are down a lot in a short time, but the price doesn’t reflect how well the business is…

Read more »

Hydrogen testing at DLR Cologne
Investing Articles

£20,000 invested in Rolls-Royce shares 3 years ago is now worth…

| Simon Watkins

Rolls‑Royce shares are down after a huge surge from 2023, but the numbers suggest this rare dip could be a…

Read more »

ISA Individual Savings Account
Investing Articles

How big must an ISA be to aim for a £25,000+ a year second income?

| Simon Watkins

Ahead of the 5 April ISA deadline, I double-checked I had fully utilised my tax-free allowance by topping up my…

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DIVIDEND YIELD text written on a notebook with chart
Investing Articles

An 8.8% forecast dividend yield! 1 FTSE 100 income share to buy today after bullish 2025 numbers?

| Simon Watkins

With strong 2025 results and earnings growth forecasts, this high-yielding FTSE 100 share could offer far more income potential than…

Read more »

Investing Articles

Lists of income stocks to buy almost never include this one — but with a forecast 8.2% yield, I think they should!

| Simon Watkins

This FTSE firm, not always seen as an income play, has a forecast yield of 8.2%, underlining why it's one…

Read more »

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

Aviva’s share price is down 13% to under £7, despite outstanding 2025 results! Time for me to buy more?

| Simon Watkins

I think Aviva’s share price reflects an outdated view of the business, and that gap between perception and reality is…

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

Shell’s £33+ share price is near an all-time high, so why am I going to buy more as soon as possible?

| Simon Watkins

Shell's strong cash generation and improving growth drivers contrast with a share price well below my valuation, suggesting major long‑term…

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