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ASX Preview: Australian Shares to Fall as US Inflation Concerns Fuel Rate Hike Fears; Block Q2 Adjusted Earnings, Total Net Revenue Up

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Australian shares are poised to fall on Thursday as renewed concerns over US inflation and the prospect of higher interest rates weighed on investor sentiment after Federal Reserve Governor Lisa Cook signaled the central bank may need to tighten policy further if price pressures fail to ease.

Overnight, the S&P 500 and the Nasdaq Composite fell 0.2% and 0.8%, respectively, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 0.5%.

In the macroeconomy, Australia's building approvals and international trade in goods data are due at 11:30 am Sydney time.

In corporate news, Block (ASX:XYZ) reported Thursday second quarter adjusted earnings of $1.02 per share on total net revenue of $6.62 billion, compared with adjusted earnings of $0.62 on total net revenue of $6.05 billion a year earlier.

AMP (ASX:AMP) reported Thursday first-half underlying earnings of AU$0.069 per share on revenue of AU$1.43 billion, compared with underlying earnings of AU$0.052 on revenue of AU$1.38 billion a year earlier.

Australia's benchmark index rose 0.9%, or 82 points, to close at 9,227.80 on Wednesday.

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