Highlights from TDA's IMX Sentiment Index

Net buying in December has benefited the IMX, increasing it to 4.92, according to December's TD Ameritrade Holding Corp. AMTD IMX reading.

TD Ameritrade client accounts net buying increased exposure to the equity market, which in turn added the increase to the IMX.

Reduction in volatility was relative. Overall, companies such as General Electric Company GE, Microsoft Corporation MSFT and Bank of America Corp BAC were able to hold the increase at a modest level.

December's IMX period ended with the major market indices losing its track from where they initially started. The S&P 500, NASDAQ Composite, and Dow Jones Industrial Average were all off around 1.5 percent, while the Russell 2000 was down 4 percent.

Last December, volatility in the S&P 500 as measured by the VIX increased ahead of the Federal Reserve press conference and board meeting.

TD Ameritrade's IMX reading highlights some of the buying opportunities for traders.

Apple Inc. AAPL and Fitbit Inc FIT were both net buys over the holiday season. The December IMX reading noted that both of these companies rebounded off levels of support during the period.

Walt Disney Co DIS was another net buy.

The release of its first "Star Wars" film was a significant boost since acquiring the franchise in 2012.

The NASDAQ Composite has recorded meaningful gain in 2015. The NASDAQ index is up more than 6 percent compared to where it ended last year.

The S&P 500 was flat, having lost 0.1 percent, and the DJIA and Russell 2000 had losses of 1.5 percent and 4.1 percent, respectively since December 31, 2014, according to TD's latest reading.