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A Brazilian court has ordered Vale SA, the world's largest iron ore miner, to suspend operations at two more dams, demanding that it prove the structures are stable.

TPG Telecom's first-half profit has slumped 76.5 per cent to $46.9 million after its decision to halt the rollout of its planned mobile network resulted in a $227.4 million impairment.

Westpac is selling its personal financial advice business as Australia's second-biggest bank exits the scandal-hit sector, and the bank's consumer boss George Frazis is set to leave.

Australian shares are up marginally as a spike in the price of iron ore boosted mining companies, offsetting losses by tech and health care companies.

WA doubles down on tourism

Oil prices rose to around four-month highs overnight, aided by the prospect of prolonged OPEC-led oil supply curbs and signs of inventory declines in US crude stockpiles.

Palladium touched an all-time high overnight, continuing a strong run this year on a supply shortfall of the autocatalyst material, while gold held above the key $US1,300-per-ounce level on expectations the US Federal Reserve will hold rates steady this week.

Banks and tech helped lead Wall Street higher on Monday, while Boeing and Facebook were a drag and investors eyed this week's US Federal Reserve meeting for affirmation of its commitment to "patient" monetary policy.

Opposition leader Bill Shorten has pledged an additional $110 million in new healthcare projects in Western Australia, adding to a string of spending promises ahead of the federal election due in May.

The Australian stockmarket has started the week higher, buoyed by iron ore producers as the price of the resource spiked.

Carnegie Clean Energy company secretary and non-executive director Grant Mooney has agreed to help fund the company’s operations, while administrators KordaMentha attempt to recapitalise its core wave energy business.

OPINION: Over nearly two decades the 40under40 Awards have provided a series of snapshots of the state’s business sector.

Woodside Petroleum has made a multi-million dollar investment in Edith Cowan University spin-out Sapien Cyber, which has become the third tech startup to attract financial backing from the gas producer over the past month.

BCI Minerals has appointed GR Engineering as lead engineer on the Mardie salt and potash project’s definitive feasibility study (DFS).

Northern Minerals and Venturex Resources have announced share placements of $20 million and $3.65 million, respectively.

Tougher emissions standards for ships and a growing need for remote power options for miners could both be a boost for the domestic LNG market.

SPECIAL REPORT: Major new engineering contracts show momentum is building for $60 billion of oil and gas projects in WA, but the issue of carbon policy has once again created an obstacle.

The state government has awarded a $549 million contract to Volvo to continue supplying Transperth buses with local manufacturer Volgren to fit-out the vehicles.

The state government has confirmed it is in talks to reach a settlement that would end the long-standing dispute over the $1.7 billion of litigation proceeds from Alan Bond’s failed Bell Group.

Pilbara Minerals has exercised an option to enter into a joint venture with steelmaker Posco to develop a lithium processing facility in South Korea.

IOOF Holdings faces a class action over the beleaguered wealth manager's alleged failure to tell shareholders about APRA's concern over possible breaches of superannuation laws.

Australian shares have opened higher led by the tech sector.

Budget tax cuts tipped

US crude futures briefly hit a 2019 high on Friday but retreated along with benchmark Brent oil as worries about the global economy and robust US production put a brake on prices.

Palladium set a fresh record high on Friday amid expectations that China's economic stimulus would drive demand for the autocatalyst metal, while news that Russia may ban exports of precious metal scraps compounded worries of a supply deficit.

Australian shares have closed the week marginally lower after a seesaw day.

A rigger has been fined $4,000 plus $10,000 in court costs after two Irish workers on an East Perth construction site were crushed to death by a tilt-up panel weighing more than three tonnes.

Altura Mining has increased its share purchase plan (SPP) by $4 million, just two days after it upsized the offer from $5 million to $10 million.

Leasing success at The Quadrant on William Street has continued a trend of city fringe and suburban tenants moving to the Perth CBD, while options for firms with large space requirements have become increasingly scarce.

A carefully managed five-year incubation process for new Perth company Respirion Pharmaceuticals has resulted in one of the largest funding deals for Western Australia’s biotech sector.

More than 750 guests attended the 2019 Business News 40under40 Awards held this week at Optus Stadium’s Riverview Room.

Carnegie Clean Energy has gone into voluntary administration, three days after the state government withdrew funding for its Albany Wave project.