US-U-S-STOCK-MAR

NEW YORK - DECEMBER 31: Traders work in the Merrill Lynch booth on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) moments after the closing bell December 31, 2008 in New York City. Wednesday is the last day of trading on the exchange in what has been one of the most tumultuous years in finance in the nation's history. Spencer Platt/Getty Images/AFP