(TheStreet) -- Stocks slipped back into the red as weakness in technology stocks offset strength in basic materials. The Dow Jones Industrial Average was down by 22 points, or 0.2%, at 12,573. Earlier in the session, the index rose to as high as 12,642. The S&P 500 was down by 4 points or 0.3% at 1333, while the Nasdaq was shedding 32 points, or 1.1%, at 2796. Tech stocks were dragging the markets lower, with Microsoft (NASDAQ:

) and Cisco (NASDAQ:

) dragging the Dow lower, even as Intel (NASDAQ:

), American Express (NYSE:

) and Travelers (NYSE:

) made smart gains on the index.

.