Robert Miller with the latest City and business news on a poor mid-week trading session for the Asia Pacific markets, as Australians take time off from the Queensland flood clear-up to mark Australia Day; Commodity prices fall, although cocoa bucks the trend, and gold looks set for a bounce; the success of the first ever common euro zone bond issue gives impetus to the single currency and WH Smith sees a sharp fall in sales but continues with £50m share buy-back.