Western Asset Emerging Markets Debt Fund Inc. (NYSE:EMD) Short Interest Up 65.5% in April

Western Asset Emerging Markets Debt Fund Inc. (NYSE:EMD) saw a large increase in short interest in April. As of April 15th, there was short interest totalling 44,200 shares, an increase of 65.5% from the March 31st total of 26,700 shares. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 215,900 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is currently 0.2 days.

Western Asset Emerging Markets Debt Fund Stock Down 0.1 %

Shares of Western Asset Emerging Markets Debt Fund stock opened at $8.98 on Friday. Western Asset Emerging Markets Debt Fund has a 52 week low of $7.85 and a 52 week high of $9.67. The business’s fifty day simple moving average is $9.22 and its 200-day simple moving average is $8.95.

Western Asset Emerging Markets Debt Fund Announces Dividend

The firm also recently disclosed a monthly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, June 3rd. Stockholders of record on Thursday, May 23rd will be issued a $0.0845 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, May 22nd. This represents a $1.01 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 11.29%.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

A number of hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in EMD. Raymond James Financial Services Advisors Inc. grew its position in shares of Western Asset Emerging Markets Debt Fund by 87.6% in the third quarter. Raymond James Financial Services Advisors Inc. now owns 374,072 shares of the company’s stock valued at $3,105,000 after purchasing an additional 174,651 shares during the period. Advisor Partners II LLC purchased a new position in Western Asset Emerging Markets Debt Fund in the third quarter valued at about $3,739,000. Peoples Bank KS purchased a new position in Western Asset Emerging Markets Debt Fund in the third quarter valued at about $29,000. Ieq Capital LLC raised its stake in Western Asset Emerging Markets Debt Fund by 46.2% during the third quarter. Ieq Capital LLC now owns 34,985 shares of the company’s stock valued at $290,000 after buying an additional 11,062 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Clough Capital Partners L P acquired a new stake in Western Asset Emerging Markets Debt Fund during the third quarter valued at approximately $510,000. Hedge funds and other institutional investors own 33.05% of the company’s stock.

About Western Asset Emerging Markets Debt Fund

Western Asset Emerging Markets Debt Fund Inc is an open ended fixed-income mutual fund launched and managed by Legg Mason Partners Fund Advisor, LLC. It is co-managed by Western Asset Management Company, Western Asset Management Company Limited and Western Asset Management Company Pte. Ltd. The fund invests in fixed income markets of emerging market countries across the globe.