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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

Could Superdry be the best contrarian buy on the market today?

| Alan Oscroft

Here's why I think Julian Dunkerton's return is the best chance Superdry plc (LON: SDRY) has for a return to…

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Investing Articles

Is the Thomas Cook share price on the way back after a 10% rise?

| Alan Oscroft

Thomas Cook Group plc (LON: TCG) and easyJet plc (LON: EZJ) have slumped this year, but are they on the…

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Investing Articles

2 fallen, low-valued, FTSE 100 stocks that I still won’t buy

| Alan Oscroft

I'm seeing an undervalued FTSE 100 (INDEXFTSE: UKX) stock offering a 6% dividend yield, but I'm still not buying it.…

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Investing Articles

Is the BT share price in danger from nationalisation?

| Alan Oscroft

BT Group - class A common stock (LON:BT-A) share price is down nearly 50% in five years. Are nationalisation fears…

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Investing Articles

3 ways to lose everything in the stock market

| Alan Oscroft

Some investors are really good at losing big money, quickly. I'll let you in on some of their secrets.

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Investing Articles

Is this proof that Bitcoin really is a bursting bubble?

| Alan Oscroft

Bitcoin and blockchain might be brand new technologies, but the psychology driving them up is as old as the hills.

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Investing Articles

An overlooked 6%+ dividend I’m thinking of buying right now

| Alan Oscroft

Small companies can provide reliable long-term income too. Read on to learn of two with well-covered dividends and big yields.

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Investing Articles

Is the Centrica share price heading for 110p again?

| Alan Oscroft

Although Centrica plc (LON: CNA) shares have plunged to a 20-year low, I think they could be a contrarian buy…

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Investing Articles

Neil Woodford fund suspension extended. Here’s what I’d do now

| Alan Oscroft

As the Woodford Equity Income Fund suspension is extended, how should investors prepare for the future?

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Investing Articles

Forget the Boohoo share price, I think this fallen growth stock could be set to rebound

| Alan Oscroft

Growth stocks like Boohoo Group plc (LON: BOO) are the ones I find hardest to value, but here's a small…

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Investing Articles

Here’s how I’m planning to beat the State Pension using the FTSE 100

| Alan Oscroft

It needn't be hard picking a FTSE 100 (INDEXFTSE: UKX) portfolio to beat the State Pension. Here's one way I'd…

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Investing Articles

3 critical investment mistakes I want to avoid in 2019

| Alan Oscroft

With Brexit just around the corner, the possibility of making investment mistakes is bigger than ever. Here's my approach to…

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Investing Articles

Investing in your 20s? I think these top investment trusts can help you retire earlier

| Alan Oscroft

What's the best way to invest in your 20s? Here as some ideas.

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Investing Articles

How I’d start out investing with £5,000 right now

| Alan Oscroft

Right now could be the best time for investing £5,000 we've seen in years. Here's how I'd do it.

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Investing Articles

Forget a Cash ISA! Here’s my simple FTSE 100 Stocks & Shares ISA strategy

| Alan Oscroft

Here's why I think the FTSE 100 (INDEXFTSE: UKX) will beat a Cash ISA hands down over the next couple…

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Investing Articles

Is this 10% dividend small-cap stock a buy after 20% fall?

| Alan Oscroft

Want to hear of two shares whose prices have fallen and dividend yields have soared? Read on.

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Investing Articles

Could the UKOG share price fall all the way to zero?

| Alan Oscroft

The UK Oil & Gas plc (LON: UKOG) share price is sliding, and an H1 update fails to settle my…

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Investing Articles

The AstraZeneca share price continues to soar. Time to buy?

| Alan Oscroft

The AstraZeneca plc (LON: AZN) share price is up 45% in five years, and here's why I think it has…

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Investing Articles

Woodford Patient Capital Trust is down 20% in a month: here’s what I’d do

| Alan Oscroft

With a big discount to NAV, I think Woodford Patient Capital Trust plc (LON: WPCT) might be an unmissable bargain.…

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Investing Articles

Are Kier Group shares set to rebound, or go bust?

| Alan Oscroft

Bottom-picking in the search for great recovery share prospects is very tempting. But can it pay off for Kier Group…

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Investing Articles

2 overlooked growth shares I’d consider buying for the next 10 years

| Alan Oscroft

Here's one growth share that I think has been plodding along nicely, and another that could be coming back from…

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Investing Articles

Is the IQE share price a recovery buy after its 40% fall in 12 months?

| Alan Oscroft

The IQE plc (LON: IQE) share price has crashed again as profit expectations are cut. But is the fall overdone…

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Investing Articles

Are these 2 FTSE 100 growth stocks bargains or value traps?

| Alan Oscroft

One of these FTSE 100 (INDEXFTSE: UKX) growth stocks has slumped and the other is wobbling a bit. Is it…

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Investing Articles

Forget the Tullow Oil share price, is this the best oil stock out there?

| Alan Oscroft

Here's what I think could be one of the best oil investments to be had this year.

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Investing Articles

Is the ITV share price a FTSE 100 bargain or a value trap?

| Alan Oscroft

The ITV plc (LON: ITV) share price looks tempting every time I see it. But do I need to be…

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Investing Articles

Is the Vodafone share price a FTSE 100 bargain or a value trap?

| Alan Oscroft

Vodafone plc (LON: VOD) shares have fallen nearly 50% since 2017 and the dividend has been slashed by 40%. Is…

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Investing Articles

Is Bitcoin the new gold?

| Alan Oscroft

With Facebook's launch of Libra Coin, could cryptocurrencies take on a new respectability? And can they ever be good investments?

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Investing Articles

Retirement saving: three things I wish I’d done 10 years ago

| Alan Oscroft

It's never too soon to focus your investment strategy on what's best for your retirement.

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Investing Articles

Is the RBS share price a FTSE 100 bargain or a value trap?

| Alan Oscroft

The Royal Bank of Scotland Group plc (LON: RBS) and Barclays plc (LON: BARC) share prices are in another slump,…

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Investing Articles

2 FTSE 100 dividend stocks I’d buy and hold until retirement

| Alan Oscroft

Looking for a FTSE 100 (INDEXFTSE: UKX) stock that's lifted its dividend for 20 straight years and now offers a…

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Investing Articles

3 lessons to learn from Neil Woodford’s troubles

| Alan Oscroft

Neil Woodford's status as an investing guru has suffered badly since his flagship fund's suspension, so what can we learn?

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Investing Articles

Are Dixons Carphone shares a falling knife to buy after a 25% crash?

| Alan Oscroft

Dixons Carphone plc (LON: DC) is the latest victim of the high street disease. But should we buy?

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Investing Articles

Why I think the Saga and Thomas Cook shares prices are still best avoided

| Alan Oscroft

Have Saga plc (LON: SAGA) and Thomas Cook Group plc (LON: TCG) shares really reached rock bottom? I think there…

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Investing Articles

The Sirius Minerals share price: buy, sell or hold?

| Alan Oscroft

Alan Oscroft asks where the Sirius Minerals plc (LON: SXX) share price is likely to go next.

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Investing Articles

The Lloyds share price: buy, sell or hold?

| Alan Oscroft

Alan Oscroft asks, will the Lloyds Banking Group plc (LON: LLOY) share price ever come good?

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Investing Articles

Here’s what I’d do about the Ted Baker share price crash now

| Alan Oscroft

With Ted Baker plc (LON: TED) shares joining Superdry plc (LON: SDRY) in the long line of struggling fashion brands,…

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Investing Articles

Will the Next share price be the next in line to crash, or can it soar?

| Alan Oscroft

The high street fashion business is in dire straits right now, but here's why I think the Next plc (LON:…

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Investing Articles

Will this news help the Morrisons share price halt its 12-month slide?

| Alan Oscroft

There will surely be winners and losers in the supermarket wars, and I ask which camp WM Morrison Supermarkets plc…

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Investing Articles

2 overlooked FTSE 250 dividend shares I’d buy and hold forever

| Alan Oscroft

Not all great long-term dividend investments are obvious. Here are two from the FTSE 250 (INDEXFTSE: MCX) that I'm looking…

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Investing Articles

Never mind Tesco, is the Sainsbury’s share price the one to buy now?

| Alan Oscroft

Some investors are eyeing up Tesco plc (LON: TSCO) and J Sainsbury plc (LON: SBRY) as attractive investments now. I'm…

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