Market Spec Regarding WMC

BHP Billiton Limited
08 March 2005

     BHP Billiton Limited is issuing this announcement to fulfil disclosure
  obligations arising from its secondary listing on the London Stock Exchange.

    The text of this release is identical to that issued by BHP Billiton Plc
                                    earlier.


Date                 8 March 2005
Number               09/05

                   MARKET SPECULATION REGARDING WMC RESOURCES





BHP Billiton appointed Deutsche Bank to assess the feasibility of acquiring a
stake in WMC Resources Limited. A decision was made not to acquire any shares.

BHP Billiton holds economic exposure to 50.6 million (4.3%) WMC Resources shares
through cash settled derivative contracts.

BHP Billiton will today seek discussions with the board of WMC Resources
regarding the possibility of making an all cash offer for the entire issued
share capital of WMC Resources.

Further information on BHP Billiton can be found on our Internet site: 
http://www.bhpbilliton.com

Australia                                                     United Kingdom
Jane Belcher, Investor Relations                              Mark Lidiard, Investor & Media Relations
Tel: [phone] Mobile: [phone]                  Tel: [phone]
email: [e-mail]                         email: [e-mail]

Tania Price, Media Relations                                  Ariane Gentil, Media Relations
Tel: [phone] Mobile: [phone]                  Tel: [phone]
email: [e-mail]                            email: [e-mail]

United States                                                 South Africa
Francis McAllister, Investor Relations                        Michael Campbell, Investor & Media Relations
Tel: [phone]                                          Tel: [phone] Mobile: [phone]
email: [e-mail]                   email: [e-mail]

BHP Billiton Limited ABN 49 004 028 077                     BHP Billiton Plc Registration number 3196209
Registered in Australia                                     Registered in England and Wales
Registered Office: Level 27, 180 Lonsdale Street Melbourne  Registered Office: Neathouse Place London SW1V 1BH United
Victoria 3000                                               Kingdom
Telephone [phone] Facsimile [phone]        Telephone [phone] Facsimile [phone]

                  The BHP Billiton Group is headquartered in Australia


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