rawing widespread praise after Wednesday’s announcement that the Fed was holding rates steady for a fifth consecutive meeting. At the same time, he also indicated that the U.S. economy remains healthy and that inflation pressures are easing.

For penny stock investors, that’s like getting a hole-in-one. "They don’t have to cut rates because of weakness, and they don’t have to raise rates because of infl

I like to think that penny stocks are lone marauders that buck long held stock market trends. They don’t follow typical trading patterns, they don’t care how much oil is trading at (unless it’s an energy stock of course), they don’t care what Bill Gates thinks, and for-the-most-part, their performance isn’t based on what goes on overseas or here at home.

To a large extent, it’s this independence that makes penny stocks more fun to watch; it also makes them much riskier than their mid and large-cap peers.

Having said that, I do have to remind myself of what the great 17th century poet John Donne famously noted: "No man is an island, entire of itself…"

Despite my bullish sentiment on the independent merits of penny stocks, there are some external factors of note that can have an immediate impact on the long-term sentiment of penny stocks in general.

Remember, investors (of every ilk) can be a fickle bunch, jumping ship or jumping the bandwagon at any given point, sending the markets reeling or soaring. As such, upbeat news from the only economic voice of note that really matters is a good thing.

Enter Ben Bernanke.

Being the chairman of the Federal Reserve means you’re the voice of the world’s most influential economic policy. Not an easy task...especially when every single word you utter (in private and public) is scrutinized. And can have an immediate impact on global stock markets.

One year after Ben Bernanke took the helm at the Federal Reserve (on Jan. 31, 2006) the central bank appears to have achieved a sought-after "soft landing" for the U.S economy.

Bernanke was drawing widespread praise after Wednesday’s announcement that the Fed was holding rates steady for a fifth consecutive meeting. At the same time, he also indicated that the U.S. economy remains healthy and that inflation pressures are easing.

For penny stock investors, that’s like getting a hole-in-one. "They don’t have to cut rates because of weakness, and they don’t have to raise rates because of infla

akes penny stocks more fun to watch; it also makes them much riskier than their mid and large-cap peers.

Having said that, I do have to remind myself of what the great 17th century poet John Donne famously noted: "No man is an island, entire of itself…"

Despite my bullish sentiment on the independent merits of penny stocks, there are some external factors of note that can have an immediate impact on the long-term sentiment of penny stocks in general.

Remember, investors (of every ilk) can be a fickle bunch, jumping ship or jumping the bandwagon at any given point, sending the markets reeling or soaring. As such, upbeat news from the only economic voice of note that really matters is a good thing.

Enter Ben Bernanke.

Being the chairman of the Federal Reserve means you’re the voice of the world’s most influential economic policy. Not an easy task...especially when every single word you utter (in private and public) is scrutinized. And can have an immediate impact on global stock markets.

One year after Ben Bernanke took the helm at the Federal Reserve (on Jan. 31, 2006) the central bank appears to have achieved a sought-after "soft landing" for the U.S economy.

Bernanke was drawing widespread praise after Wednesday’s announcement that the Fed was holding rates steady for a fifth consecutive meeting. At the same time, he also indicated that the U.S. economy remains healthy and that inflation pressures are easing.

For penny stock investors, that’s like getting a hole-in-one. "They don’t have to cut rates because of weakness, and they don’t have to raise rates because of infl

on the long-term sentiment of penny stocks in general.

Remember, investors (of every ilk) can be a fickle bunch, jumping ship or jumping the bandwagon at any given point, sending the markets reeling or soaring. As such, upbeat news from the only economic voice of note that really matters is a good thing.

Enter Ben Bernanke.

Being the chairman of the Federal Reserve means you’re the voice of the world’s most influential economic policy. Not an easy task...especially when every single word you utter (in private and public) is scrutinized. And can have an immediate impact on global stock markets.

One year after Ben Bernanke took the helm at the Federal Reserve (on Jan. 31, 2006) the central bank appears to have achieved a sought-after "soft landing" for the U.S economy.

Bernanke was drawing widespread praise after Wednesday’s announcement that the Fed was holding rates steady for a fifth consecutive meeting. At the same time, he also indicated that the U.S. economy remains healthy and that inflation pressures are easing.

For penny stock investors, that’s like getting a hole-in-one. "They don’t have to cut rates because of weakness, and they don’t have to raise rates because of infl

the world’s most influential economic policy. Not an easy task...especially when every single word you utter (in private and public) is scrutinized. And can have an immediate impact on global stock markets.

One year after Ben Bernanke took the helm at the Federal Reserve (on Jan. 31, 2006) the central bank appears to have achieved a sought-after "soft landing" for the U.S economy.

Bernanke was drawing widespread praise after Wednesday’s announcement that the Fed was holding rates steady for a fifth consecutive meeting. At the same time, he also indicated that the U.S. economy remains healthy and that inflation pressures are easing.

For penny stock investors, that’s like getting a hole-in-one. "They don’t have to cut rates because of weakness, and they don’t have to raise rates because of infl

rawing widespread praise after Wednesday’s announcement that the Fed was holding rates steady for a fifth consecutive meeting. At the same time, he also indicated that the U.S. economy remains healthy and that inflation pressures are easing.

For penny stock investors, that’s like getting a hole-in-one. "They don’t have to cut rates because of weakness, and they don’t have to raise rates because of inflationary problems," said one analyst.

Another noted, "This was a short and sweet statement that inflation is easing and growth is solid. In other words, the Fed almost seemed to be on the verge of declaring victory."

And the markets cheered.

North American stock markets closed higher Wednesday – with fresh records set in both New York and Toronto. New York’s Dow Jones industrial jumped 98.38 points to a new record high of 12,621.69. Toronto's S&P/TSX composite index advanced 19.52 points to 13,034.12, moving past the 13,021.77 record high set in mid-December.

More importantly, the Penny Stock Index reached a new all-time high of 12,211.

On the first anniversary of his ascent to the Federal Reserve throne, Bernanke delivered an upbeat message to the eager ears of Wall Street. While penny stocks march to a different tune, we can all agree that when Bernanke speaks, the world listens.

And when the message is upbeat, it’s good to have Bernanke on our island.