Wall St. Watchdog reveals information about today’s action in the Basic Materials (NYSE:XLB) sector:

Gainers (% price change)

• Cabot Microelectronics (NASDAQ:CCMP): The shares closed at $45.99, up $5.78, or 14.37%, on the day. Its market capitalization is $1.05 billion. About the company: Cabot Microelectronics Corporation supplies slurries used in chemical mechanical planarization, a polishing process used in the manufacture of integrated circuit devices. The slurries are liquids containing abrasives and chemicals that enhance the polishing process. The polishing process itself facilitates the manufacture of smaller, faster, and more complex integrated circuit devices. Get the most recent company news and stock data here >>
• Terra Nitrogen Co., L.P. (NYSE:TNH): The shares closed at $161.49, up $3.58, or 2.27%, on the day. Its market capitalization is $3.02 billion. About the company: Terra Nitrogen Company, L.P., through its subsidiaries, markets and produces nitrogen, fertilizer, crop protection products, and seed and services for agricultural, turf, ornamental, and other growers. The Company also produces nitrogen products and methanol for industrial customers. Get the most recent company news and stock data here >>
• American Vanguard Corp. (NYSE:AVD): The shares closed at $12.94, up $0.26, or 2.05%, on the day. Its market capitalization is $358.20 million. About the company: American Vanguard Corporation develops and markets products for agricultural and commercial uses. The Company manufactures and formulates chemicals for crops, human, and animal health protection. Chemicals include insecticides, fungicides, molluscicides, growth regulators, and soil fumigants. Get the most recent company news and stock data here >>
• Lawson Products, Inc. (NASDAQ:LAWS): The shares closed at $15.65, up $0.26, or 1.69%, on the day. Its market capitalization is $134.05 million. About the company: Lawson Products, Inc. sells and distributes expendable maintenance, repair, and replacement products to OEM’s. The Company’s products include fasteners, screws, nuts rivets, hoses and related fittings, lubricants, cleansers, adhesives, files, drills, welding products and other shop supplies. Lawson also supplies automotive electrical wiring, exhaust and other automotive parts. Get the most recent company news and stock data here >>
• CIRCOR Intl., Inc. (NYSE:CIR): The shares closed at $32.53, up $0.51, or 1.59%, on the day. Its market capitalization is $561.62 million. About the company: CIRCOR International, Inc. designs, manufactures, and distributes an array of valves and related products and services to a variety of end-markets located worldwide. The Company’s products optimize the efficiency and/or ensure the safety of fluid-control systems. CIRCOR manufactures primarily instrumentation and fluid regulation products, and petrochemical products. Get the most recent company news and stock data here >>

Losers (% price change)

• Ivanhoe Mines Ltd. (NYSE:IVN): The shares closed at $16.01, down $4.69, or 22.66%, on the day. Its market capitalization is $11.83 billion. About the company: Ivanhoe Mines Ltd. explores for and develops mineral and metal properties in Asia and Australia. The Company explores for gold and copper at the Oyu Tolgoi mine in southern Mongolia; and holds interests in companies that mine coal in Mongolia, molybdenum and rhenium in Australia, and gold at the Kyzyl Gold Project in Kazakhstan. Get the most recent company news and stock data here >>
• Universal Stainless (NASDAQ:USAP): The shares closed at $32.48, down $2.42, or 6.93%, on the day. Its market capitalization is $221.86 million. About the company: Universal Stainless & Alloy Products, Inc. manufactures and markets semifinished and finished specialty steel products, including stainless steel, tool steel, and certain other alloyed steels. The Company’s products are sold to re-rollers, forgers, service centers, and original equipment manufacturers. Universal also provides conversion services on materials supplied by customers. Get the most recent company news and stock data here >>
• Haynes Intl., Inc. (NASDAQ:HAYN): The shares closed at $53.04, down $3.8, or 6.69%, on the day. Its market capitalization is $647.31 million. About the company: Haynes International, Inc. develops, manufactures, and markets high performance alloys, primarily for use in the aerospace and chemical processing industries. Get the most recent company news and stock data here >>
• HORSEHEAD HOLDING CORP. (NASDAQ:ZINC): The shares closed at $8.62, down $0.58, or 6.3%, on the day. Its market capitalization is $376.66 million. About the company: Horsehead Holding Corporation produces specialty zinc and zinc-based products. The Company also owns and operates a 110 megawatt coal-fired power plant. Horsehead’s products are used in a wide variety of applications, including the galvanizing of fabricated steel products and as components in rubber tires, alkaline batteries, paint, chemicals and pharmaceuticals. Get the most recent company news and stock data here >>
• Ferro Corporation (NYSE:FOE): The shares closed at $4.75, down $0.3, or 5.94%, on the day. Its market capitalization is $411.21 million. About the company: Ferro Corporation produces performance materials for industry by utilizing organic and inorganic chemistry. The Company produces a variety of coatings, colors, ceramics, chemicals, plastics, and related products. The Company’s primary markets are building and renovation, major appliances, household furnishings, transportation, industrial products, packaging, and leisure products. Get the most recent company news and stock data here >>

(Note: Selected financial data are sourced from Google Finance. All data are assumed to be accurate.)

Advantage: Check out our interactive stock charts, fundamentals, Twitter stream, and more >>

Improve Your 2011 Financial Health: Join the winning team of stock pickers with Wall St. Cheat Sheet’s acclaimed premium newsletter>>

Get Your FREE Special Report: 4 Things You Must Know About the US Economy Now!