Australian equities are poised to open higher on Wednesday as investors remain optimistic after the Commonwealth Bank of Australia (ASX:CBA) posted exceeded profit expectations in its fiscal first half.

The financial services firm reported Wednesday that its cash earnings per diluted share in the fiscal first half rose to AU$3.065 from AU$2.967 per diluted share a year earlier.

Meanwhile, Wall Street ended mixed after Fed Chair Powell reasserted that the Fed is in no rush to cut interest rates.

Nasdaq Composite closed down 0.4%, the S&P 500 was little changed, and the Dow Jones Industrial Average rose 0.3%.

On the local economic front, the home loan and investment lending data is due for release at 11:30 am Sydney time.

In corporate news, Computershare (ASX:CPU) reported Tuesday fiscal first-half earnings of $0.49 per diluted share, up from $0.17 per diluted share a year earlier.

Suncorp Group (ASX:SUN) reported Wednesday fiscal first-half cash earnings of AU$0.67 per diluted share, up from AU$0.55 per diluted share a year earlier.

Australia's benchmark index was little changed on Tuesday to close at 8,484.