Alexander Smith

Head of Market Research at Pinnacle Digest

A lifelong entrepreneur, market speculator, research junkie and podcast host, Alex is passionate about uncovering bold investment trends and ideas before they hit the mainstream.

Alexander Smith is the founder of Equity Marketing Strategies, where he focuses on content creation, helping public companies tell their story by curating a wide range of video content. While most of his clients are based in Canada, his work has taken him across the globe, from New York to Nicaragua, Chile, Romania, Japan, Israel, and Canada's far north. A speculator and research junkie at heart, the small and micro-cap markets have captivated Alex for nearly twenty years. Alex is passionate about uncovering bold investment ideas before they hit the mainstream. A father of three, Alex lives with his wife in the beautiful eastern Fraser Valley where the Cascade and Coast mountains meet.

Latest Article By

Alexander Smith

Abstract chessboard symbolizing geopolitical strategy and global market risks
Tuesday, July 22, 2025

The Hidden Driver: Why Every Investor Must Watch Geopolitical Risk

Geopolitical risk is no longer a background concern, it’s a central force reshaping global markets. This article unpacks how political instability, trade wars, and regional conflicts are influencing capital flows, supply chains, and investment strategies in real time.

 Three armed militia members stand guard near makeshift mining equipment in a dense jungle, symbolizing the illicit extraction of rare earths along Myanmar’s remote borderlands.
Friday, July 18, 2025

Rare Earths, Rare Power: The Global Race for the World’s Most Strategic Resource

The global race for rare earths is intensifying. China, long the dominant supplier, has reopened the export taps — but geopolitical pressure, smuggling, and insurgent-backed mining in Myanmar are complicating the picture. With rare earths vital to everything from EVs to defense systems, Western governments and corporations are scrambling to secure independent supply chains. From Apple’s $500M deal with MP Materials to China’s covert stockpiling, this is no longer just about trade — it’s about global leverage.

Three solemn Wall Street executives in suits stare upward at unseen financial data screens, symbolizing concern amid surging debt securities and repo liabilities in 2025.
Thursday, July 17, 2025

Wall Street’s Silent Bet: What a Record Surge in Debt Securities Reveals

Wall Street just made its boldest move since 2008. Broker/dealers have loaded up on debt securities and repos at a historic pace—signaling they’re bracing for a major market correction.

Marc Faber warns of U.S. dollar collapse and rising risk of default under Trump
Monday, July 14, 2025

Why Marc Faber Thinks the U.S. Could Default Under Trump

Marc Faber warns that a second Trump presidency could trigger the first U.S. default in history, as rising debt, protectionism, and a weakening dollar converge.

Abstract image of cobalt mining disruption and clean energy transition.
Wednesday, July 2, 2025

The Cobalt Conundrum: A Supply Shock that Could Reshape the Battery Economy

This article explores the ripple effects of Congo’s extended cobalt export ban and why it could reshape global supply chains for years to come. With demand accelerating and policy-driven volatility rising, Western governments and companies are now racing to secure ethical, domestic cobalt sources. Featuring expert insights from CMOC and Open Mineral, and a spotlight on U.S. and Canadian production efforts, we reveal how this critical mineral is becoming a new geopolitical fault line in the battery-powered future.

Abstract illustration of factories and data centers competing for electricity amid rising energy costs.
Monday, June 30, 2025

The Energy Squeeze: How AI Is Threatening Global Metal Supply Chains

As AI and data centers compete for cheap power, aluminum and copper smelters in North America and Europe face soaring costs and uncertain futures. Industry leaders warn that smelter closures will tighten metal supply chains and increase dependence on foreign producers, undermining the West’s green transition and industrial security. Without urgent policy shifts and massive renewable buildouts, the clash between digital growth and critical materials production could reshape global trade and threaten thousands of industrial jobs.

Abstract image of financial power shifts with central bank and Wall Street symbols.
Friday, June 20, 2025

Nomi Prins on Gold, Stagflation, and the Coming Global Realignment

Nomi Prins unpacks the dangerous new alliance forming between the public and private sectors—one that could redefine markets, control capital, and permanently distort price signals. This conversation dives deep into the post-pandemic economy, asset bubbles, de-dollarization, and the elite's monetary endgame.

Abstract illustration showing economic emotions driving stock market movements
Wednesday, May 14, 2025

Mood Swings of a Superpower: The History and Market Impact of the U.S. Consumer Sentiment Report

This post unpacks the history of the U.S. Consumer Sentiment Report, how it evolved into a key market-moving indicator, and what high or low readings historically mean for equities, bonds, and commodities. It’s a must-read for investors seeking a macro edge.

Wall Street bull and bear with storm clouds overhead—symbolizing market melt-up before a 2025 economic collapse.
Tuesday, May 13, 2025

The Last Melt-Up Before the Fall: David Hunter’s 2025 Warning for Investors

David Hunter predicts an economic collapse in 2025—but not before an unprecedented melt-up in stocks, commodities, and precious metals. Here’s why he believes the next six months will deliver euphoria followed by devastation—and what investors should watch for now.

Stablecoins like Tether investing in U.S. Treasuries
Friday, April 18, 2025

Stablecoins and U.S. Treasuries: How Tether Became a Silent Giant in America’s Debt Market

Stablecoins are no longer just crypto sidekicks. With billions parked in U.S. Treasuries, they're becoming pivotal players in global finance—and potential shock absorbers for U.S. debt markets.

TSX Venture is home to venture capital in mining
Tuesday, April 15, 2025

Gold Rally Reignites TSX Venture: Spurs Big Financings

Gold’s breakout has reignited investor interest in the TSX Venture, triggering large financings and renewed momentum across junior mining stocks. As majors generate record free cash flow, a new wave of M&A may be about to begin.

NASDAQ stock chart with dramatic peak, headline asks 'Has the NASDAQ Peaked?' in bold text over a textured financial background
Tuesday, April 15, 2025

Has the NASDAQ Peaked?

The NASDAQ soared past 20,000 earlier this year, fueled by AI mania and tech euphoria — but history warns that every peak comes at a price. This is the gripping story of how the NASDAQ builds and breaks fortunes in cycles of boom, bust, and rebirth.

Aerial view of an intricate, golden-toned 3D topographical map depicting Ancient Egyptian civilization with prominent pyramids and temples along a river.
Saturday, April 12, 2025

The King's Metal: Gold, Power, and the 5,000-Year Reign of Wealth

Tracing gold's 5,000-year history as the ultimate symbol of enduring value and power, this article explains its monetary significance and why central banks are accumulating it at record rates today.

Detailed isometric diorama featuring multiple miniature historical scenes on platforms, including colonial figures, a cannon, classical architecture like an arch, early industrial elements, and vintage vehicles.
Friday, April 11, 2025

The Debt That Built the Empire: How the U.S. Treasury Market Became the Heart of Global Finance

This post traces the rise of the U.S. Treasury market to become the heart of global finance and explores the potential systemic risks emerging from rapidly increasing U.S. national debt.

Isometric view of miniature miners excavating gold bars and coins around blocks marked with a Canadian maple leaf, representing Canadian gold mining investment.
Thursday, April 10, 2025

Canada’s Golden Titans: 4 Miners Poised to Dominate the Gold Bull Market

This article highlights four major Canadian gold mining companies (Barrick Gold, Agnico Eagle Mines, Alamos Gold, B2Gold) detailing their key global assets and production outlook. It emphasizes how their operations, combined with Canada's stability, position them strongly to benefit from the current gold bull market driven by high prices and economic uncertainty.