BASIC MATERIALS

Dow Chemical Co (DOW.N), the largest U.S. chemical firm, announced Tuesday it plans to cut 5 percent of its workforce and shutter 20 plants as part of a restructuring program amid a slowing global economy.

U.S. chemical giant DuPont cites a slowdown in Asia, a decline in electronics and a widely used chemical as a reason for the cuts.

Environmental services provider Ecolab Inc. ups its stake in lucrative natural gas sector with $2.2 billion acquisition.