TOKYO (Reuters) - Japan's government downgraded its assessment of the economy in March for the first time in three years, blaming a bruising U.S.-China trade war for slumping exports and industrial output.

EDDY COUNTY, NEW MEXICO (Reuters) - In New Mexico's Chihuahuan Desert, Exxon Mobil Corp is building a massive shale oil project that its executives boast will allow it to ride out the industry's notorious boom-and-bust cycles.

WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. Federal Reserve on Wednesday is expected to hold interest rates steady, shave the number of hikes projected for the rest of the year, and release long-awaited details of a plan to end the monthly reduction of its massive balance sheet.

TOKYO (Reuters) - Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said on Wednesday he sees the central bank's inflation target as a means to achieve the more important goal of reviving the economy, in a sign that firing up inflation may no longer be a priority for the government.

LONDON (Reuters) - Fund managers have named bearish bets in European equities as the "most crowded" trade in Bank of America Merrill Lynch's survey for the first time in its history, suggesting sentiment for one of the world's most shunned markets may rise from here.

NEW YORK (Reuters) - If you are looking for steady work, it is probably best not to go into show business. Unless you are Peter Krause, that is.