Euro falls below dollar for first time since 2002

The euro has fallen below the dollar for the first time in nearly 20 years as the war in Ukraine pushes the single currency down.

A single euro bought $0.998 on the foreign exchange market at 12:45 GMT, down by 0.4% in the day's trading.

Fears that Russia may restrict Europe's supplies of energy have increased the chances of recession in the euro area.

The European Central Bank has lagged other central banks in raising rates, further weakening the euro.

Currencies tend to rise when the relevant central bank increases interest rates, as international investors eye a larger return for holding assets priced in that currency.

The dollar has also been strong in recent months, buoyed by the US central bank raising interest rates, and investors seeking the safe haven of dollar assets in times of global turmoil.

A weakening currency will make imports more expensive for eurozone countries, especially goods priced in dollars such as crude oil.

That could contribute to even higher inflation in the eurozone, which is already running at 8.6% for June.

A spokesperson for the ECB said it does not "target a particular exchange rate. However we are always attentive to the impact of the exchange rate on inflation, in line with our mandate for price stability."

The bank is expected to start increasing interest rates next week.

The euro has fallen almost 12% against the dollar since the start of the year.

The single currency has been worth more than the dollar for most of its history. It lagged below the dollar in the years following the currency's launch in 1999, but the last time it traded below the dollar was December 2002 - less than a year after euro notes and coins were introduced for the first time.