Nikkei drops 2 percent as Honda, exporters slide

TOKYO, June 8 (Reuters) The Nikkei average fell below 15,000 for the first time this year on Thursday, dropping 2.10 percent as shares of Honda Motor Co. Ltd. and other exporters declined on continued concern about a slowdown in the United States, a key market for Japanese products.

Shares of brokerages such Daiwa Securities Group Inc. also declined, as investors bet the firms would see smaller profits due to the recent stock market declines.

The Nikkei was down 317.46 points at 14,778.55 as of 0121 GMT. The TOPIX index was down 2.39 percent at 1,496.88.

REUTERS SK VC0708