Short Interest in Western Asset High Income Fund II Inc. (NYSE:HIX) Increases By 80.0%

Western Asset High Income Fund II Inc. (NYSE:HIX) was the recipient of a significant increase in short interest in the month of May. As of May 31st, there was short interest totalling 117,900 shares, an increase of 80.0% from the May 15th total of 65,500 shares. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 434,400 shares, the short-interest ratio is currently 0.3 days.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Western Asset High Income Fund II

A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the company. Wells Fargo & Company MN lifted its holdings in Western Asset High Income Fund II by 4,343.7% in the fourth quarter. Wells Fargo & Company MN now owns 1,668,693 shares of the closed-end fund’s stock valued at $7,025,000 after acquiring an additional 1,631,141 shares during the period. Invesco Ltd. lifted its holdings in Western Asset High Income Fund II by 1.7% in the first quarter. Invesco Ltd. now owns 984,945 shares of the closed-end fund’s stock valued at $4,117,000 after acquiring an additional 16,267 shares during the period. Ameriprise Financial Inc. lifted its holdings in Western Asset High Income Fund II by 85.7% in the fourth quarter. Ameriprise Financial Inc. now owns 781,455 shares of the closed-end fund’s stock valued at $3,290,000 after acquiring an additional 360,547 shares during the period. Shaker Financial Services LLC lifted its holdings in Western Asset High Income Fund II by 127.4% in the first quarter. Shaker Financial Services LLC now owns 609,954 shares of the closed-end fund’s stock valued at $2,572,000 after acquiring an additional 341,690 shares during the period. Finally, Absolute Investment Advisers LLC lifted its holdings in Western Asset High Income Fund II by 37.5% in the first quarter. Absolute Investment Advisers LLC now owns 504,744 shares of the closed-end fund’s stock valued at $2,110,000 after acquiring an additional 137,644 shares during the period.

Western Asset High Income Fund II Trading Up 0.1%

HIX opened at $4.24 on Tuesday. The business’s 50-day moving average is $4.11 and its two-hundred day moving average is $4.23. Western Asset High Income Fund II has a 1 year low of $3.65 and a 1 year high of $4.54.

Western Asset High Income Fund II Announces Dividend

The firm also recently declared a monthly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, September 2nd. Shareholders of record on Friday, August 22nd will be issued a $0.049 dividend. This represents a $0.59 annualized dividend and a yield of 13.88%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, August 22nd.

Western Asset High Income Fund II Company Profile

Western Asset High Income Fund II Inc is a closed-ended fixed income mutual fund launched and managed by Legg Mason Partners Fund Advisor, LLC. The fund is co-managed by Western Asset Management Company, Western Asset Management Company Limited, and Western Asset Management Company Pte. Ltd. It invests in the fixed income markets across the globe.