After the prior session's close, Dell (DELL Quote - Cramer on DELL - Stock Picks) posted earnings that topped Wall Street's estimates. However, the stock was off 21 cents, or 0.7%, closing at $28.25.
Several credit and mortgage-related names finished higher. Accredited Home Lenders (LEND Quote - Cramer on LEND - Stock Picks) surged 43.4% to $9.05 after it got a revised, but reduced, buyout offer from Lone Star. Countrywide (CFC Quote - Cramer on CFC - Stock Picks), Lehman Brothers (LEH Quote - Cramer on LEH - Stock Picks), and Bear Stearns (BSC Quote - Cramer on BSC - Stock Picks) also rose. Elsewhere, the October front-month crude contract rose 68 cents to finish at $74.04 a barrel. Overseas markets were higher. Japan's Nikkei 225 jumped 2.6%, and Hong Kong's Hang Seng rallied 2.1% overnight. In Europe, London's FTSE 100 and Germany's Xetra Dax both ended up 1.5%.


