Dow Chemical

DuPont will cut 1,700 jobs in its home state of Delaware and thousands more globally as it prepares for its merger with Dow Chemical.

Dow Chemical and DuPont are merging to form a company valued at about $130 billion as they try to counter falling commodities prices and weakness in some key markets that have pressured their giant agriculture and chemicals businesses.

The cause of a Dow Chemical plant fire in the Pennsylvania town of Bristol is being blamed on lightning, according to local reports. At least one death was reported in connection with the fire.