Australian shares are poised to rise on Thursday, as investors await signals from global central bankers gathering in Jackson Hole, where US Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell is expected to defend the independence of monetary policy amid intensifying political pressure from President Donald Trump.

Sentiment is also buoyed by expectations that the US Fed may lean toward rate cuts later this year despite minutes from its July meeting showing most officials still see inflation risks as the greater threat.

Overnight, the S&P 500 and the Nasdaq Composite fell 0.2% and 0.7%, respectively, while the Dow Jones Industrial Average gained 0.04%.

In the macroeconomy, Australia's business activity accelerated in August, with the fastest growth in output across manufacturing and services in over three years, supported by rising new orders, export demand, and stronger hiring in the service sector, according to a monthly survey by S&P Global.

In corporate news, Goodman Group (ASX:GMG) reported fiscal 2025 operating earnings of AU$1.18 per security on revenue of AU$2.31 billion, compared with operating earnings of AU$1.075 on revenue of AU$1.98 billion a year earlier.

Brambles (ASX:BXB) reported fiscal 2025 earnings of $0.645 per share on revenue of $6.67 billion, compared with earnings of $0.558 on revenue of $6.52 billion a year earlier.

Australia's benchmark index rose 0.3% or 21.8 points, to close at 8,918 on Wednesday.