TORONTO - Stock markets moved higher Wednesday morning as data showed tame wholesale inflation in the U.S. and investors hoped a bottom is at hand in the subprime mortgage meltdown after HSBC Holdings and Bear Stearns announced big writedowns.

On Wall Street, the Dow Jones industrials rose 48.21 points to 13,355.3 after lower oil prices and a bullish report from Wal-Mart stores ignited a 319.54-point surge in the previous session.

Setting and Keeping Goals

It is easy to set goals but often difficult to keep and reach them. We will say, "The next time I go on a diet, I will stay on it" or "I am going to start saving money". In spite of this, we often fail because we do no set our minds to the goal or apply direct action to achieving the goal.

1. When setting goals do not set them so high that you set yourself up to fail. Some goals are so ambitious that it is almost impossible to keep or reach them. It may be best to take plodding baby steps to get where you want to be. If you remember the Aesop fable of The Tortoise and the Hare, you will recall that the tortoise won the race by being steady and focused.

2. Do not keep your goals a secret from family; this includes your children. This is especially important if you have set a goal to rid yourself a habit that may be harmful to your health, i.e.

Debt financing for acquisition of Almatis by Dubai International Capital

UBS Investment Bank (Global Coordinator, Mandated Lead Arranger and Bookrunner) and Arab Banking Corporation (Mandated Lead Arranger and Bookrunner for the senior secured facilities) have been mandated to arrange and underwrite a $970m debt financing (the Facilities) to finance Dubai International Capital's acquisition of Germany's Almatis. .

CoStar Lead Street (Nov. 4-10): Timberland, Dorms Answer to Housing Woes?

In this week's issue of CoStar Lead Street, Real Estate Capital Institute says invest in dorms, Brookfield Asset Management says timberland; NCR moves towards virtual growth but sets anchor in the World Trade Center; Sinclair Broadcast strays into commercial real estate investing; and CB Richard Ellis wins kudos for forecasting corporations' labor growth. Plus, we tell you where corporations have decided to grow and give you the latest major properties under contract. Dorm Investment Anything but Dormant With more national firms acquiring and aggregating student housing portfolios -- especially in major university campuses -- the sector could promise dynamic growth as many institutions are severely in need of affordable and available student housing on or near campuses, according to the Real Estate Capital Institute in Chicago.

Aussie co to finance small Indian businesses

Over one million small business owners in India will be provided financial help by an Australian social investment company.

The microfinance provider targets poverty alleviation using a commercial approach. It has raised about USD 30 million from Australian donors in the last 12 months and the money would be used to supply financial loans and business services to budding entrepreneurs in India to help break the poverty cycle.

Opportunity International Australia aims to fund five million entrepreneurs in India over the next five years.

"With this initial tranche of money leveraged at a rate of up to six times by debt funding from the major Indian banks, we will be able to reach one million small business owners," Opportunity Australia chief executive Paul Peters said, according to The Age report on Friday.