NEW YORK (CNNmoney) - U.S. stocks turned mixed at midday Tuesday, retreating from solid morning gains, as weakness in the telecom sector and new concern about anthrax clouded the markets.
In the latest anthrax development, a New Jersey-based postal worker has been diagnosed with the inhaled version of the disease, according to a state official. The worker was employed at a handling facility where letters sent to Senate Majority Leader Tom Daschle and NBC News anchor Tom Brokaw were processed.
Downgrades of Dow Jones industrial average component SBC Communications (SBC: down $2.70 to $38.70, Research, Estimates) contributed to the blue-chip indicator's weakness.
At 12:20 p.m. ET, the Dow industrials were down 26.50 to 9,350.53; they were up as much as 62 points earlier in the session. The Nasdaq composite index was up 11.33 at 1,719.41 after being more than 31 points higher. The Standard & Poor's 500 index slid 0.73 to 1,089.17. 
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