Most U.S. stocks fell for the first time this week, led by financial shares, after a rise in Treasury yields spurred concern bonds will become a more attractive investment than equities.

JPMorgan Chase & Co., American Express Co. and General Motors Corp. pushed down the Dow Jones Industrial Average after yesterday’s market holiday. Apple Inc. paced a rally in computer stocks that sent the Nasdaq Composite Index to a six-year high and carried the Standard & Poor’s 500 Index to its third straight gain. About 20 stocks declined for every 19 that rose on the New York Stock Exchange.

Ten-year Treasury notes dropped the most since June 12 after private reports showed the economy is adding more jobs than previously forecast, lifting the yield to 5.14 percent. At that level, the bonds pay a return of 2.48 percent through the end of 2007, up from 2.41 percent a month ago, data compiled by Bloomberg show. The S&P 500 must rise 38 points by the end of the year to match that guaranteed rate of return. (Bloomberg)