Euro zone inflation was unchanged at a higher-than-expected 2% in July, flash data from statistics agency Eurostat showed Friday. Economists polled by Reuters had expected the figure to hit 1.9%, after a 2% reading in June.

Euro zone inflation held steady at the ECB's 2% target in July, confirming the bank's benign view on prices and strengthening the case for policymakers to keep interest rates on hold for some time after rapidly cutting borrowing costs.