European stock markets are generally weak today partly because ECB chief, Jean-Claude Trichet, is being vindicated by the facts. Euro zone inflation bumped higher again in June to +4% year over year, up from May's +3.7%.

Trichet's commentary was as hawkish as usual. He is focused on inflation, and with a Euro priced at 1.58, he is looking much more like the proverbial king of the currency hill than those "King Dollar" fans of yesteryear would like to admit.

KM