Nikkei slides below 17,000 as banks, retail sold

(Adds details, stocks)

By Elaine Lies

TOKYO, Oct 17 (Reuters) - Japan's Nikkei average ended morning trade below 17,000 for the first time in more than two weeks as bank shares took a beating for a second day after Wall Street sank following the reporting of poor bank earnings.

A slight rise in the yen also helped spur selling of automakers and other exporters. Shares of Nissan ...