• Tepid exports cloud Japan outlook, more BOJ stimulus seen after sales tax rise

  TOKYO/OTSU (Reuters) - Japan's annual export growth in February was short of market expectations and a Bank of Japan policymaker warned about the outlook as the world's third-largest economy faces a sales tax hike next month that could dent economic activity.

• MAD support for bonds even as fingers point at Russia

  LONDON (Reuters) - As Russia appeared to dump U.S. Treasury debt this month in the thick of a tense East-West standoff over Crimea, bond markets barely blinked - raising questions about just how brewing crises across the developing world may feed back on Western economies.

• Asian shares slip before Fed policy review

  TOKYO (Reuters) - Asian share markets were mostly lower on Wednesday, with investors still observing the Ukraine/Crimea crisis and ahead of a closely-watched Federal Reserve policy review later in the session.

• Oracle quarterly results disappoint Wall Street; shares fall

  SAN FRANCISCO (Reuters) - Oracle Corp posted higher third-quarter revenue and profit that failed to satisfy investors looking for signs of a sustained turnaround and its shares fell about 4 percent.

• Will Tesla Upset Westport's Growth Strategy?

  By Mitu Anand : Westport Innovations ( WPRT ) has been decimated so far this year as shares are down 15%. The maker of low-emission engine and fuel system technologies using alternative fuels is facing threats from all angles as electric cars from Tesla Motors ( TSLA ) gain steam, and the gradual…

• Toyota in U.S. settlement over unintended acceleration: CNN

  WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Justice Department has reached a $1 billion settlement with Toyota Motor Corp over the automaker's handling of consumer complaints tied to unintended vehicle acceleration and is set to announce the agreement as early as Wednesday, CNN reported.