The US stocks surged on Wednesday, the first trading day of 2013, as the Congress steered the country off the "fiscal cliff", which had been a major uncertainty hanging over the market. At the close of trading, the Dow Jones Industrial Average rallied 308.41 points, or 2.35 percent, to 13,412.55. The broader S&P 500 Index jumped 36.23 points, or 2.54 percent, to 1,462.42. The tech- heavy Nasdaq Composite Index climbed 92.75 points, or 3. 07 percent, to 3,112.26.

Traders work on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange, New York, the United States, on January 2, 2013.

 

 

Traders and guests applaud after the first trading day of 2013 in the New York Stock Exchange, New York, the United States, on January 2, 2013.

 

 

Traders work on the floor of the New York Stock Exchange, New York, the United States, on January 2, 2013.