Citadel Securities' head of equities: Retail investors are expected to return to US stocks, with October presenting a window to add positions.

BlockBeats news, October 2 — Scott Rubner, head of equity and equity derivatives strategy at Citadel Securities, said that after a sharp cooling in September, retail investors are expected to pour back into the U.S. stock market in large numbers this month. In a note to clients, Rubner wrote that while October may still see volatility, the month offers a better entry point for investors to "re-load" as earnings season arrives and corporate stock buybacks are set to resume. He said that after positioning has been cleared and valuations have fallen, "the market enters the fourth quarter from a cleaner starting point, and the room to rebuild exposure has clearly expanded."

Rubner wrote that in September, spot equity trading volume fell to 0.94 times the average of the past year, the lowest in 2026. Retail option premiums also fell to the same multiple. Equity trading activity is currently 26% below its June high, while option premiums have shrunk by about one-third from the 1.41 times level reached at that time.