The global sell-off in equities could end up being a mere "growth scare," according to Fundstrat managing partner and head of research Tom Lee. "I think a lot of this depends on whether financial conditions in the U.S. start to tighten, meaning do markets start to seize up?" Lee told CNBC's " Squawk Box " on Monday.
But Lee opined that the sharp spike in Wall Street's fear gauge may suggest that a return to investor confidence could be over the horizon. "We have over three days where suddenly markets reversed, declines like that are generally symmetric but you have to watch the VIX," Lee said. "When the VIX peaks and starts to roll over and falls down, the recovery can be just as quick.