Nikkei up 1.5 pct as soft yen buoys exporters

(Updates to midday)

TOKYO, June 16 (Reuters) - Japan's Nikkei stock average rose 1.5 percent on Monday, as exporters such as Kyocera Corp (6971.T) rose on a weaker yen and after U.S. data eased concerns on Wall Street about inflation and a near-term rise in interest rates.

The benchmark Nikkei .N225 gained 205.89 points to end the morning session at 14,179.62, after having lost 3.6 percent last week.

The broader Topix climbed 1 percent to 1,384.61. (Reporting by Aiko Hayashi)