Why is the euro doing so badly against the dollar?

Analysis: Investors often turn to US currency in times of uncertainty and there are plenty of reasons for them to be jittery

• Euro nears parity with dollar as pound hits two-year low

It is two decades since the euro was last trading below $1.00 (0.84) against the US dollar. Now the single currency is once again teetering on the brink of parity.

There are a host of reasons why, although the prompt for the most recent slide in the currency has been the fear Europe faces an energy crunch this winter.