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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

Investing Articles

These 3 shares climbed in November. Which is my best share to buy now?

| Alan Oscroft

I'm eyeing up stocks that have bounced back in November, trying to decide the best share to buy now for…

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Investing Articles

This top Warren Buffett tip is helping me through the stock market crash

| Alan Oscroft

Listening to Warren Buffett can do us far more good than watching share prices. Here's how doing that helps me…

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Investing Articles

Worst UK economic slump for 300 years? Buying FTSE 100 shares is my way out

| Alan Oscroft

2020 could see our worst economic performance since 1709. But FTSE 100 shares are coping well enough, and I reckon…

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Investing Articles

3 mistakes I must avoid in the next stock market crash

| Alan Oscroft

Investors made plenty of mistakes in the 2020 stock market crash, professionals and private investors alike. Here are three errors…

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Investing Articles

3 things I’ve learned from the 2020 stock market crash

| Alan Oscroft

Stock market crashes have been happening forever. Here are three ways I think the 2020 crash can help us prepare…

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Investing Articles

Forget the State Pension, I’d buy cheap shares to help fund my retirement

| Alan Oscroft

Trying to live on the State Pension looks less and less appealing to me as the years go by. Here's…

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Investing Articles

These 3 FTSE 100 shares have crashed hard in 2020. Is it time to buy?

| Alan Oscroft

Plenty of FTSE 100 shares have fallen badly this year. But do these three big fallers have recovery potential in…

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Investing Articles

Why did the Indivior share price crash 40% on Friday?

| Alan Oscroft

The Indivior share price has just slumped, but it has still more than doubled in 2020. I take a look…

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Investing Articles

Here’s why these 3 FTSE 100 shares have soared in 2020

| Alan Oscroft

These three FTSE 100 shares are beating the market in 2020 while most others are falling. I take a closer…

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Investing Articles

I’d buy this small-cap growth stock for my Stocks and Shares ISA now

| Alan Oscroft

I'm already planning my 2021 Stocks and Shares ISA, going mostly for income shares. But I could make room for…

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Investing Articles

An investment trust I’d pick as a contrarian buy today

| Alan Oscroft

Some investment trusts are already storming back, but some are still way down in 2020. This one appeals to the…

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Investing Articles

2021 dividend forecasts: Lloyds, HSBC, Centrica

| Alan Oscroft

FTSE 100 dividends have been slashed in 2020, but they should come bouncing back in 2021. These three make it…

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Investing Articles

3 dirt-cheap 5%+ FTSE 100 dividend stocks I’d buy for 2021

| Alan Oscroft

With FTSE 100 dividends looking set for a 2021 resurgence, there are so many good-looking ones I'm spoilt for choice.…

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Investing Articles

Why has the Lloyds share price jumped 40% in a month?

| Alan Oscroft

The Lloyds share price is climbing in November. But has the bank's outlook suddenly changed? Here are my thoughts on…

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man in shirt using computer and smiling while working in the office
Investing Articles

3 out-of-favour investment trusts that Freetrade thinks are worth a second look

| Alan Oscroft

I love investment trusts, and many have been hammered during the stock market crash. I'm looking for bargain buys as…

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Risk reward ratio / risk management concept
Investing Articles

Why has the BP share price climbed 40% in a month?

| Alan Oscroft

The BP share price is gaining strongly in November. But in 2020 it reached its lowest for 25 years. Does…

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Investing Articles

As the Rolls-Royce share price climbs 10% to lead the FTSE 100, here’s what I’d do

| Alan Oscroft

The Rolls-Royce share price has gained 70% since its November low, as market optimism slowly returns. We're still expecting two…

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Investing Articles

Why did the Pets at Home share price crash 10% Tuesday, despite growing sales?

| Alan Oscroft

Pets at Home shares are rocketing in 2020, but they took a bit of a dip on Tuesday. What's happened,…

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Investing Articles

Why has the IAG share price climbed 85% in November? And what will I do now?

| Alan Oscroft

The IAG share price (LON: IAG) has easily beaten the FTSE 100 in November. Will planes be filling the skies…

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Investing Articles

Why has the Ocado share price fallen 20% since September? And what would I do now?

| Alan Oscroft

The Ocado share price has soared in 2020, but it's started dipping. Here's my view on what's happening, why, and…

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Investing Articles

Why has the Shell share price climbed 45% since October’s low?

| Alan Oscroft

The Shell share price plunged 60% when the stock market crash hit. But in the past month, it's been among…

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Investing Articles

Why did the Cineworld share price jump another 25% on Monday morning?

| Alan Oscroft

The Cineworld share price has been rising strongly, and has just spiked up a further 25%. I take a look…

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Young lady working from home office during coronavirus pandemic.
Investing Articles

Here’s where I see the Lloyds share price in 5 years’ time

| Alan Oscroft

The Lloyds share price (LON: LLOY) has been spiking up. But it's still way down in the 2020 stock market…

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Investing Articles

These are my 5 best shares to buy for my 2021 ISA

| Alan Oscroft

Many investors will leave their 2021 ISA planning late, and face a last-minute rush. I already have a list of…

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Investing Articles

FTSE 100: I rate this my one best share to buy now and hold forever

| Alan Oscroft

Which is the best share to buy now? After the stock market crash, I see plenty to choose from. But…

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Investing Articles

The Royal Mail share price (RMG) has soared 30% in 2020. I’d buy

| Alan Oscroft

The Royal Mail share price is one of the FTSE 100's biggest winners this year. Here's what the interim results…

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Investing Articles

Here’s how I’d invest £100 per week in an ISA in 2021

| Alan Oscroft

We might not be out of the 2020 stock market crash yet, but I'm already thinking about my 2021 Stocks…

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man in shirt using computer and smiling while working in the office
Investing Articles

This FTSE 250 share has soared 30% in 2020. Do I still have time to buy?

| Alan Oscroft

My eyes have been mostly on the FTSE 100 this year, but the FTSE 250 is doing better in 2020.…

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Investing Articles

As Bitcoin soars to a 2020 high during FTSE 100 weakness, here’s what I’d do now

| Alan Oscroft

Was I wrong to write off Bitcoin a year ago, seeing as it's close to a new record high? Was…

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Investing Articles

2 FTSE 100 dividend shares I’d buy for my Stocks and Shares ISA in this market rally

| Alan Oscroft

I'm looking for cheap shares for my Stocks and Shares ISA before the stock market rebound makes all the top…

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Investing Articles

This is one of my top FTSE 100 dividend shares to buy now

| Alan Oscroft

This top FTSE 100 dividend share offers a yield of 9%, even after its share price jumped 25% in November.…

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Investing Articles

As the Vodafone share price soars in November, here’s why I’d buy now

| Alan Oscroft

Is the Vodafone share price (LON: VOD) finally past the bottom of its five-year slump? I think so, and here's…

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Risk reward ratio / risk management concept
Investing Articles

The easyJet share price soars 50% in 2 weeks. Could it make me rich now?

| Alan Oscroft

Despite the airline's first ever full-year loss, the easyJet share price is up 50% in recent weeks. Should I add…

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Investing Articles

These 2 FTSE 100 shares are bucking the 2020 stock market crash. Here’s what I’d do now

| Alan Oscroft

Looking at these FTSE 100 stocks, I wouldn't guess there'd been a stock market crash in 2020. Both have results…

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man in shirt using computer and smiling while working in the office
Investing Articles

With the FTSE 100 rebounding, is it time to switch out of a Cash ISA?

| Alan Oscroft

A Cash ISA is safe in a stock market crash. But here's why I wouldn't have one even then, and…

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Investing Articles

As vaccine news sends FTSE 100 shares upwards, here’s what I’m thinking of buying now

| Alan Oscroft

FTSE 100 shares are climbing again, as a second vaccine looks good. I take a look at some favourite shares…

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Investing Articles

The 2020 stock market crash: does it reveal what kind of investors we are?

| Alan Oscroft

Am I too attached to the stocks I own? Or can I maintain enough objectivity? The stock market crash has…

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Investing Articles

Vaccine success, Biden bounce: is it time to dump gold and buy the FTSE 100?

| Alan Oscroft

Biden wins election, Covid vaccine works, stocks are rising, and gold is falling. Here's my take on the assets I'd…

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man in shirt using computer and smiling while working in the office
Investing Articles

Biden bounce, vaccine success: Are these the best shares to buy now?

| Alan Oscroft

Deciding what we think are the best shares to buy can be tough. I'm struggling because I see too many…

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Investing Articles

FTSE 100: Are these the best shares to buy now for a stock market crash recovery?

| Alan Oscroft

As Covid-19 uncertainty gradually lifts, aren't we all trying to decide which are the best shares to buy now? I…

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