Basic materials stocks advanced broadly on Wall Street on Thursday morning, with the sector seeing an overall increase of 0.6%.

More broadly, the Dow Jones Industrial Average declined 0.4%, the Nasdaq fell 0.8% and the S&P 500 was down 0.4%.

Some of the biggest gainers among basic materials stocks include:

• Valhi Inc (VHI): VHI stock is up 8.7% today.

• Polypore International Inc (PPO): PPO stock is up 3.5%, marking the third consecutive day the stock has increased.

• Anglogold Ashanti Ltd (AU): AU stock is up 3.6% today.

• Green Plains Renewable Energy (GPRE): GPRE stock is up 4.1% today.

• Trex Company (TREX): TREX stock is up 2.4%, marking the third consecutive day the stock has increased.

• New Gold Inc (NGD): NGD stock is up 2.0% today.

• Barrick Gold Corp (ABX): ABX stock is up 1.5% today.

• Lyondellbasell Industries Nv (LYB): LYB stock is up 2.7% today.

• Airgas Inc (ARG): ARG stock is up 1.5%, marking the third consecutive day the stock has increased.

• Balchem Corp (BCPC): BCPC stock is up 1.4%, marking the fourth consecutive day the stock has increased.

Some of the biggest losers among basic materials stocks include:

• Cliffs Natural Resources Inc (CLF): CLF stock is down 2.0% today and down 39.5% in the last month.

• Ternium S.A. (TX): TX stock is down 3.8%, marking the third consecutive day the stock has decreased.

• Gerdau S.A. (GGB): GGB stock is down 3.2% today.

• Vale S.A. (VALE): VALE stock is down 3.9% today.

• Teck Resources Ltd (TCK): TCK stock is down 3.2%, marking the third consecutive day the stock has decreased.

• Copene-Petroquimica Do Nordeste (BAK): BAK stock is down 2.5% today.

• Schweitzer-Mauduit International (SWM): SWM stock is down 2.5% today.

• Olin Corp (OLN): OLN stock is down 2.2% today.

• National Steel Corp (SID): SID stock is down 1.9% today.

For more information on the best stocks to buy right now, check out the latest commentary on InvestorPlace.com.

And for more on the hot stocks moving most on Wall Street right now, check out our archive of daily market movers by sector here.

Editor’s Note: Returns for the fastest-moving stocks listed here are based on share prices 20 minutes prior to publication of this story.