RETAILING

L.A. Gear Accepts Fine to Settle Charges: The Torrance athletic shoe maker said it will pay $404,000 to the U.S. government in connection with charges that it violated export laws governing the Arab boycott of Israel. The company said the settlement does not constitute an admission of wrongdoing. The company said it was called to task for providing lists of its Taiwanese factories to its Kuwaiti distributor on three occasions from 1987 through 1990. The company said it has maintained business operations in Israel for years.