And a Happy 2nd Credit Crunch Anniversary to You Too!

Who doesn’t like to celebrate an anniversary with a well thought out gift? The tradition of giving a specific gift on a specific anniversary dates back to the Middle Ages and is most likely rooted in the underlying belief that ties certain luck-bringing substances with a distinct number of years.

In Medieval Europe only milestone anniversaries like 25th and 50th were celebrated. To mark the occasion of the Silver or 25th wedding anniversary, a husband would crown his wife with a wreath of silver. On their blessed Golden or 50th wedding anniversary, he graciously bestowed upon her a wreath of gold.

While no one is, as far as I know, married to Wall Street, it is important to note that the second anniversary of the credit crisis has arrived. What to give to the penny stock investor who has survived the last two years? The traditional gift for the second anniversary is cotton…if you’re more modern, you may want to look at china.

In light of the fiscal and monetary policy initiatives that have ascended from on high, it makes for interesting reading to reflect upon how the U.S. economic landscape has changed since the start of the crunch.

Here are some quick statistics to warm your heart. The Federal Reserves fund rate is down from 5.25% to zero; the fiscal deficit is up from 2% to 13%; Mortgage rates are down from 6.5% to 4.7%; and the Fed’s balance sheet is up from $850 billion to $2 trillion.

In spite of all of this, GDP growth is negative at about 5% and the unemployment rate has doubled to almost 10% over the past two years.

In one article I was reading, David Rosenberg, Chief Economist and Strategist of Gluskin Sheff & Associates, noted that only one policy is practically unchanged since two years ago … the U.S dollar.

“It is the only policy tool that has not budged one iota since the crisis erupted two years ago. But we are sure that as the unemployment rate makes new highs and increasingly poses a political hurdle in a mid-term election year, it would make perfect sense for a country that always operates in its best interest - even if it may not be in everyone’s best interest - to sanction a U.S dollar devaluation as a means to stimulate the domestic economy,” he said.

Rosenberg, it would seem, is of the opinion the U.S. dollar has significant downside potential; suggesting that investors should consider protecting their portfolios against a declining dollar by taking positions in commodities, gold, the Canadian dollar, resource stocks and U.S sectors that have high foreign exposure.

Here are a couple excellent penny stocks that are trading under the radar that might, considering the current economic environment, look good in your portfolio.

Apollo Gold Corp. (AGT – AMEX) is engaged in the exploration, and production of gold and by-product metals in the United States, Canada, and Mexico. The company owns the Black Fox Mine (Canada), the Huizopa Project (Mexico) and is a 50/50 joint venture partner and operator of the Montana Tunnels Mine (USA).

Over the last number of months, AGT has made great progress at its Black Fox project and is on schedule and within budget. Further, the first gold bars from the mine were poured in the last week of May.

On July 22, AGT announced plans for a second phase of core drilling to follow up the positive drilling results from the 2008 diamond drilling program on its Grey Fox property. The company plans to start the Grey Fox drilling project in early August 2009. It anticipates the core drilling program will continue into 2010.

Richard Nanna, Senior Vice President–Exploration said, “We had great success in our 2008 drilling program in identifying new gold zones at Grey Fox. We have a lot of exciting exploration to complete and we are anxious to get started.”

Have your heart set on a 2nd anniversary penny stock that is cotton specific? West 49 Inc. (WXX – TSX) is a leading action sport retailer, of moderately priced brand name and private label apparel, footwear and accessories. The company targets customers ages 10-18 with emphasis on skateboarding, snowboarding and surfing.

Think the retail sector is dead right now? Think again. According to a 2008 survey by The Harrison Group, 61% of teens surveyed agreed with the statement “I love to shop.” The U.S. Census Bureau says there are 25.3 million teens ages 13–18 with an average annual income of $2,634, (from allowance, gifts, and part-time work), plus $5,496 of their parents' money. That's $216.3 billion in teen spending power.

On June 11, WXX reported its financial results for its first quarter of fiscal 2010 ended May 2, 2009. Net sales increased 4.9% year-over-year to $40.8 million; the company’s net (loss) narrowed to ($2.6 million), or $(0.04) per share, from ($4.2 million), or $(0.07) per share, for the first quarter of last year.

"In spite of the challenging economy, we improved our margins while growing both our net sales and comparable store sales in the first quarter," said Sam Baio, CEO. "The strategies we have been executing over the past several quarters are beginning to pay off during the first quarter of fiscal 2010."

Sure some penny stock investors would be happy celebrating the 2nd anniversary of the credit crunch (and downward slide to the recession) with a Royal Doulton bone china platter emblazoned with a gold plated cotton plant.

I on the other hand, would sooner forfeit said generous gift and jump in off the sidelines for fundamentally sound penny stock companies poised for long-term growth once the economy rebounds.