Nikkei slides below 17,000 as recent gainers sold

Tokyo, Jan 9: The Nikkei share average fell below the 17,000 level on Tuesday as investors sold shares of Honda Motor Co. Ltd. and other stocks that booked aggressive gains during the Nikkei's year-end rally last month.

The Nikkei was down 107.62 points at 16,983.97 as of 0008 GMT, slipping below the 17,000 mark for the first time since Dec

22.

The broader TOPIX index was down 0.27 percent at 1,670.89.

REUTERS