By Sarah Turner
SYDNEY (MarketWatch) -- Japanese shares fell sharply in early trading on Friday, tracking steep losses recorded in the Europe and U.S. amid renewed fears about global economic growth and the health of the European banking sector. The Nikkei Stock Average JP:NIK -2.45% dropped 2.3% to 8,738.10 in early trading. Exporters were hard-hit as Canon Inc. JP:7751 -2.39% , shares fell 3.7% and Citizen Holdings Co. JP:7762 -4.34% , dropped 4.3% while Honda Motor Co. JP:7267 -3.34% shares slid 3.5%. Banks were also pressured, with Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group JP:8316 -1.21% down 2.5%.
