2159 GMT [Dow Jones] WMC Resources (WMR.AU) eases in New York trade, ADRs fall 2.14% to about A$7.94 on FX conversion vs last local close A$7.99 and vs A$7.85 friendly bid from BHP (BHP.AU). While significance of fall is probably slight, chance of rival bid from Rio Tinto (RIO.AU) is matter of some dispute among media commentators. AFR cites source that RIO unlikely to wade in as not keen on nickel sector while Robert Gottliebsen in The Australian says RIO is "doing the sums." (IGP)
