Prudential Financial Inc. plans to discontinue its institutional equity research, sales and trading business known as Prudential Equity Group. The decision affects the equity research operations throughout the U.S. including offices in New York, Washington, DC, San Francisco, Kansas City, Chicago, Philadelphia, Cleveland, Atlanta and Boston. The move will eliminate 420 jobs at 13 locations worldwide. Prudential Equity has its headquarters at One New York Plaza in New York, where Prudential leases more than 490,000 square feet.