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April 3 (Reuters) - European shares traded in a tight

range on Wednesday as investors stayed cautious ahead of a

crucial inflation report that could sway expectations on the

timing for the first interest rate cut by the European Central

Bank.

The continent-wide STOXX 600 was flat by 0715 GMT.

Following a cooler-than-expected inflation report on Tuesday

out of the region's largest economy, Germany, the focus will be

on the Eurozone inflation March report, due at 0900 GMT.

Excluding volatile components, consumer prices are expected

to rise 3% in March, easing from a 3.1% rise in the previous

month.

The technology sector climbed 0.3% in choppy

trading. A powerful earthquake in Taiwan raised concerns about

possible disruptions to the vital chip-making industry, that had

spearheaded much of the global rally in the last quarter.

Among individual stocks, Meyer Burger said it had

successfully completed a capital increase through a rights

issue, bringing in gross proceeds of 206.75 million Swiss francs

($227.7 million), sending shares of the solar panel maker down

31.9%.