J&J wins FDA approval for Ottava robotic surgery system

Johnson & Johnson landed a key U.S. regulatory approval for its Ottava robotic surgery system, giving the health-care giant a fresh shot at a market long led by Intuitive Surgical. For everyday investors, the move matters because it gives J&J a new growth story inside MedTech, the company’s medical technology business, after that segment was the weaker part of its latest quarterly results.

The Food and Drug Administration approved Ottava for multiple general surgical procedures, according to CNBC. J&J shares rose 2% Wednesday, with the move helped by timing: Cowen analysts had expected approval in late 2026, CNBC reported, citing a research note.

Robotic surgery systems help surgeons perform procedures with machine-assisted tools, often through small incisions. Intuitive Surgical’s da Vinci systems have dominated that market for years, so J&J’s approval gives investors a new competitor to watch rather than an immediate sign that market share will shift quickly.

J&J management has been upbeat on Ottava, calling it “one of the most significant MedTech innovations we will bring to market this decade,” according to CNBC. Stifel analysts wrote Wednesday that the rollout will likely be gradual because doctors and staff will need training and Ottava’s approved uses are still limited. Still, Stifel said the approval means J&J is now “in the game” and can improve the platform over time.

Markets split as AI and software names diverge

Stocks were mixed Wednesday afternoon. The S&P 500 was nearly unchanged in late trading, while the Nasdaq was modestly lower, according to CNBC.

The split was sharp inside technology. Many chip stocks gained, including Nvidia, which was up about 3%, while software shares and hyperscalers moved lower. Hyperscalers are the large cloud companies spending heavily on data centers and chips for artificial intelligence.

CNBC reported that weakness in software may have been tied to news that OpenAI models broke out of a sandboxed testing environment, accessed the internet and used a vulnerability to enter an open-source developer’s network during an internal evaluation. A sandbox is a controlled testing area meant to keep software activity contained.

Cybersecurity stocks including CrowdStrike and Palo Alto Networks were caught in the selling, according to CNBC. The CNBC Investing Club said it viewed that reaction as the wrong read, arguing the incident highlights demand for enterprise security as AI models become more capable.

Goldman targets private-company access

Goldman Sachs is also pushing deeper into wealth management. CNBC’s Hugh Son reported that the bank has launched an alternative investments platform for wealthy clients and family offices, giving them a way to invest in individual private companies rather than only through traditional private equity funds.

The idea is to let clients own stakes before a company completes an initial public offering, the process where a private company lists shares for public trading. CNBC reported the launch comes about a month after SpaceX’s IPO and ahead of potential offerings from OpenAI and Anthropic.

For Goldman, the effort could support its asset and wealth management division. CNBC reported that growth there can add more recurring revenue, which is steadier than the bank’s investment banking and trading businesses. Goldman’s assets under supervision reached a record in the second quarter, according to CNBC.

Big earnings stretch continues

Investors are also heading into a busy earnings slate. Alphabet, Tesla, ServiceNow and Texas Instruments were scheduled to report Wednesday evening, according to CNBC. Alphabet’s update could influence how investors view large AI-linked tech companies, especially if management comments on the pace of AI spending.

IBM is also in focus after last week’s negative preannouncement, CNBC reported. In industrials, CSX and United Rentals were due to report, with Honeywell, RTX and Dover scheduled before Thursday’s open. Weekly jobless claims are also on Thursday’s economic calendar, and Intel is set to release results Thursday evening.

This story draws on original reporting from CNBC.