Western Asset High Income Opportunity Fund Inc. (NYSE:HIO) Short Interest Update

Western Asset High Income Opportunity Fund Inc. (NYSE:HIO) was the target of a large growth in short interest in February. As of February 27th, there was short interest totaling 119,224 shares, a growth of 148.5% from the February 12th total of 47,986 shares. Based on an average daily volume of 327,627 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is presently 0.4 days. Based on an average daily volume of 327,627 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is presently 0.4 days.

Western Asset High Income Opportunity Fund Trading Down 0.4%

NYSE:HIO opened at $3.69 on Thursday. Western Asset High Income Opportunity Fund has a 12 month low of $3.36 and a 12 month high of $4.13. The firm has a fifty day simple moving average of $3.75 and a 200-day simple moving average of $3.81.

Western Asset High Income Opportunity Fund Dividend Announcement

The company also recently declared a monthly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, May 29th. Shareholders of record on Thursday, May 21st will be paid a dividend of $0.0355 per share. This represents a c) annualized dividend and a yield of 11.6%. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, May 21st.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the company. MAI Capital Management lifted its holdings in shares of Western Asset High Income Opportunity Fund by 14.6% during the second quarter. MAI Capital Management now owns 24,967 shares of the closed-end fund’s stock worth $99,000 after purchasing an additional 3,175 shares during the period. Cetera Investment Advisers boosted its position in Western Asset High Income Opportunity Fund by 3.5% in the fourth quarter. Cetera Investment Advisers now owns 98,413 shares of the closed-end fund’s stock valued at $365,000 after buying an additional 3,341 shares during the last quarter. Merit Financial Group LLC increased its holdings in Western Asset High Income Opportunity Fund by 20.7% in the 4th quarter. Merit Financial Group LLC now owns 20,295 shares of the closed-end fund’s stock worth $75,000 after buying an additional 3,486 shares during the period. Chicago Partners Investment Group LLC increased its holdings in Western Asset High Income Opportunity Fund by 1.2% in the 4th quarter. Chicago Partners Investment Group LLC now owns 398,939 shares of the closed-end fund’s stock worth $1,480,000 after buying an additional 4,559 shares during the period. Finally, PNC Financial Services Group Inc. raised its position in Western Asset High Income Opportunity Fund by 84.7% during the 3rd quarter. PNC Financial Services Group Inc. now owns 10,900 shares of the closed-end fund’s stock worth $42,000 after buying an additional 5,000 shares during the last quarter.

Western Asset High Income Opportunity Fund Company Profile

Western Asset High Income Opportunity Fund Inc (NYSE: HIO) is a diversified closed-end management investment company that seeks to provide high current income and capital appreciation by investing primarily in high-yield and other fixed-income securities. The Fund’s portfolio is actively managed by Western Asset Management Company, an affiliate of Franklin Templeton, and may include below-investment-grade corporate debt, emerging-market sovereign and corporate bonds, bank loans, mortgage- and asset-backed securities.