Nikkei up 1.2 pct, led by exporters and financials

(Updates to midmorning)

TOKYO, Oct 2 (Reuters) - Japan's Nikkei stock average rose 1.2 percent on Tuesday, clearing the 17,000 level for the first time in nearly eight weeks as gains on Wall Street and a softer yen pushed up exporters such as Sony Corp .

Financial shares such as Mitsubishi UFJ Financial Group Inc also gained on easing worries about global credit markets.