Is This a Bottom?

Cramer's Rate Expectations

We've seen some sort of bottom, one that should hold us and let us go higher, with Mad Money host Jim Cramer.

Last Tuesday the Dow rose 415 points, the most in five years. By Friday, Bear Stearns was almost bankrupt. So after jumping 420 points today, why would investors think this time will be any different?

Cramer said he has 10 reasons, actually, that this could be the bottom we need. Here’s a summary, David Letterman style.

1. Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson woke up. Big Hank’s no longer touting President Bush’s “the fundamentals are sound” message. Finally, he’s will to do whatever it takes to keep the system from breaking down.

2. Mortgages bonds actually traded up today, in part, Cramer said, because there’s talk of a Washington allowing Fannie Mae to buy back its own bonds. This would mean lower mortgage rates, and the chance for homeowners to refinance.

3. Lehman Brothers and Goldman Sachs reported strong quarters despite the odds.

4. Stocks outside the bank sector, such a Nucor and CSX , are actually hitting 52-week highs. This “real economy,” as Cramer calls it, seems to be in decent shape.

5. The Federal Reserve bailout of Bear Stearns proved there’s virtually no risk of losing any money you might have in an investment firm. That wasn’t always the case.

6. That Bear Stearns bail out solidified a plan for bailing out a failing bank should a similar event surface in the future.

7. Momentum names like Apple , Google , Intuitive Surgical and First Solar are showing signs of life again.

8. Brokers want investors back in the game, so Cramer expects them to low-ball Wednesday’s Visa IPO to entice potential buyers. Can’t get your hands on any? Buy Mastercard instead.

9. The biggest bull on Wall Street, Abby Joseph Cohen, who stayed bullish through this, the worst bear market in years, retired yesterday. “I always love a good irony trade,” Cramer said.

10. The market rallied despite Ben Bernanke’s best efforts to hold us back. He talked about inflation in his statement, only cut rates by 75 basis points instead of 100 and it still didn’t matter.

For more on Cramer’s 10 reasons this is the bottom we need, and why Canadian banks are guilty by association, watch the video.

Questions for Cramer? [e-mail]

Questions, comments, suggestions for the Mad Money website? [e-mail]