Investment Committee Defies September Weakness with Staying Power

Wall Street's big players are switching to defense as September begins, but one group is bucking the trend. The CNBC Investment Committee, made up of four prominent market experts, has collectively decided not to sell their stocks in the face of a notoriously weak month for markets.

The committee members, including Scott Rubner from Citadel Securities and Joe Terranova from Virtus Investment Partners, argue that the current market conditions are not cause for concern. According to Rubner's data, September has historically seen reduced buying activity on down days, with purchases running at nearly half the normal pace.

Additionally, the VIX closed August at 14.4, its second-lowest finish since December 2025. This means that hedges are currently cheap, a fact noted by Rubner in his August 31 note: 'Use strength to reduce some exposure and add inexpensive protection into this event window.'

The committee members also point out that the economy is holding up, with job openings staying at 7.3 million in July. They believe that any dip in the market presents an opportunity to add to positions, rather than a reason to sell.