Dow Chemical Co. to report first-quarter results

The Dow Chemical Co. could offer some insight into how the global economy is faring when it reports first-quarter results Thursday before the market opens. WHAT TO WATCH FOR: Dow Chemical's products are used in nearly every sector of the economy so the manufacturing giant is in a good position to feel the impact of shifts in economic growth. The Midland, Mich., company has benefited from growth in emerging economies in the Asia-Pacific region and Latin America, but its performance has been hurt by the slower economy across Europe, which is embroiled in a massive government debt crisis that is pushing the region back into a recession. During the fourth quarter, weak sales in Europe and the U.S. contributed to a $20 million loss for Dow Chemical.

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