By Devik Jain (Reuters) -European shares closed flat on Friday as gains in defensives countered a sell-off in semiconductor and commodity-linked stocks, while investors prepared for the European Central Bank’s (ECB) first interest rate hike in over a decade this month. Data on Friday showed euro zone inflation came in higher than expected and hit yet another record high in June. That firmed the case for an ECB rate hike as the inflation peak could still be months away. Aggressive central bank moves to curtail inflation have left investors worried about the likely hit to economic growth. The ST…