The euro has fallen to its lowest level in more than four years against the dollar this morning.
The new fall in the single currency happened after Germany moved to ban short-selling - profiting from the sale of borrowed shares - of the country's top ten financial institutions.
Germany's new, temporary ban also covers some high risk investments in euro-denominated government bonds, and credit default swaps - a form of insurance - on those bonds.
Overnight the euro fell below $1.22 for the first time since April 2006. This morning it is trading at $1.2196.
Short-sellers borrow shares, sell them and then buy them back when the stock falls and return them to the lender, keeping the difference in price. 'Naked' short-selling is when sellers do not even borrow the shares.
The euro has fallen 15% against the dollar so far this year, hammered by concerns that Europe's debt problems and austerity measures could hamper the euro zone's economic recovery.
