TOKYO, Oct 29 (Reuters) - The Nikkei average slid more than 2 percent on Thursday below the 10,000 mark for the first time in three weeks, as a stronger yen hurt shares of exporters and after weak new U.S. home sales data sparked a broad sell-off on Wall Street.
But Japan Airlines jumped more than 6 percent after Kyodo news agency said Japan's Transport Minister Seiji Maehara will hold a news conference on Thursday evening about the restructuring of the struggling airline.
The benchmark Nikkei fell 1.9 percent or 195.68 points to 9,879.37, well below its 25-day moving average around 10,120.
At one stage, the Nikkei fell as much 2.2 percent to 9,850.12, its lowest level since Oct. 8.
The broader Topix shed 1.1 percent to 879.21. (Reporting by Aiko Hayashi)