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ASX Preview: Australian Shares to Fall as Gold Slips Ahead of US Inflation Data; Commonwealth Bank of Australia Fiscal H2 Cash Earnings, Total Net Operating Income Up

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Australian shares are poised to fall on Wednesday, tracking a softer gold price as investors await key US inflation data that could shape expectations for the Federal Reserve's policy path.

Overnight, the S&P 500 and the Dow Jones Industrial Average each fell 0.3%, while the Nasdaq Composite declined 0.6%.

In the macroeconomy, investors are eyeing Reserve Bank of Australia Assistant Governor Christopher Kent's speech on Thursday.

In corporate news, Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX:CBA) reported Wednesday fiscal second-half cash earnings of AU$3.307 per share on total net operating income of AU$15.15 billion, compared with cash earnings of AU$3.252 on total net operating income of AU$15 billion a year earlier.

Suncorp Group (ASX:SUN) reported Wednesday fiscal second-half cash earnings of AU$0.7039 per share on gross written premium of AU$7.72 billion, compared with cash earnings of AU$0.5752 on gross written premium of AU$7.52 billion a year earlier.

Australia's benchmark index rose 0.2%, or 18 points, to close at 9,250.60 on Tuesday.

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