Consumer prices rose by 0.4% in Jun, amid an increase in transport and hospitality costs. However, the YoY rate fell to 2.2%. HICP inflation rose by 0.3% in the month, with the annual rate declining to 2.0%.

The ECB meeting for July saw the Governing Council keep its key interest rates unchanged. This means that the Deposit rate remains at 3.75% while the refi rate stays at 4.25%. The ‘hold’ on rates in July follows the 25bps rate cut implemented in June to the main interest rates. This represented its first rate change in six meetings after previously being on a rate hiking cycle.

No summer vibe to markets yet

Despite being in the midst of the summer holiday season, political events, macro data surprises, central bank commentary and global trade tensions have meant that the normal lull that tends to set into markets around this time of year, has been absent so far.