Investing Opinion

Cramer: Look at the Facts on Financials

 

I think the easiest thing in the world today is to say, "This market is horrible, and you should short everything, particularly commodities, financials, retail, agriculture and tech."

But I am stuck in the real world: That strategy, except commodities, hasn't worked since July 15.

What can I do? I am so stuck with these darned facts that it infuriates me. Nothing would be more satisfying to then to say, smugly, that it is all a big joke and I am 100% short things that are bad.

Or, even better, I am short everything that is bad and long everything that is good.

What a luxury. But the facts haven't supported that thesis.

Maybe they will, but in the end, I am stuck with the facts.

Those prices I quoted aren't illusory. Billions of dollars traded there.

They are the facts. I am betting they will withstand the onslaught.

If I am wrong, then I'm wrong. I am not paid to say nothing or to report the news. Others do that. I am paid to try to figure it out.

My work says those prices will hold, that they were the bottom. Only one stock of the major financials, just one stock, has violated those lows -- Merrill Lynch. And because it did, that broker's in the best shape to survive of all but Morgan (MS) and Goldman (GS). I don't want to own it, but I doubt anyone now questions Merrill's viability, even though Doug Kass is right about the potential captive managers (although the people in those funds are wealthy, not like the holders of auction rate preferreds).

To me, it is still in the bears' court to prove that those levels will get taken out, or at least taken out in non-Merrill Lynch style. Until then, I am sticking by my call, because so far it is right.

At the time of publication, Cramer was long Morgan Stanley, Goldman Sachs and JPMorgan.

>To order reprints of this article, click here: Reprints

At the time of publication, Cramer was long Morgan Stanley, Goldman Sachs and JPMorgan.

Jim Cramer is a director and co-founder of TheStreet.com. He contributes daily market commentary for TheStreet.com's sites and serves as an adviser to the company's CEO. Outside contributing columnists for TheStreet.com and RealMoney.com, including Cramer, may, from time to time, write about stocks in which they have a position. In such cases, appropriate disclosure is made. To see his personal portfolio and find out what trades Cramer will make before he makes them, sign up for Action Alerts PLUS. Watch Cramer on "Mad Money" weeknights on CNBC. To order Cramer's newest book -- "Jim Cramer's Stay Mad for Life: Get Rich, Stay Rich (Make Your Kids Even Richer)," click here. Click here to order "Mad Money: Watch TV, Get Rich," click here to order "Real Money: Sane Investing in an Insane World," click here to get "You Got Screwed!" and click here for Cramer's autobiography, "Confessions of a Street Addict." While he cannot provide personalized investment advice or recommendations, he appreciates your feedback and invites you to send comments by clicking here.

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