Tokyo stocks ended almost flat Wednesday as caution ahead of U.S. inflation data, due out later in the day, erased earlier gains led by the technology sector and companies that announced share buyback plans. The 225-issue Nikkei Stock Average ended up 29.67 points, or 0.08 percent, from Tuesday at 38,385.73. The broader Topix index finished 0.07 point lower at 2,730.88. On the top-tier Prime Market, gainers were led by precision instrument, rubber product, and electric appliance shares. The main decliners were oil and coal product, real estate, and land transportation issues. The U.S. dollar w…