Short Interest in Western Asset High Income Opportunity Fund Inc. (NYSE:HIO) Rises By 127.1%

Western Asset High Income Opportunity Fund Inc. (NYSE:HIO) saw a large growth in short interest in July. As of July 15th, there was short interest totaling 219,943 shares, a growth of 127.1% from the June 30th total of 96,833 shares. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 289,382 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is currently 0.8 days.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Western Asset High Income Opportunity Fund

Several hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the business. Cetera Investment Advisers boosted its position in Western Asset High Income Opportunity Fund by 3.5% during the 4th quarter. Cetera Investment Advisers now owns 98,413 shares of the closed-end fund’s stock valued at $365,000 after acquiring an additional 3,341 shares in the last quarter. Merit Financial Group LLC raised its position in shares of 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 acquiring an additional 3,486 shares in the last quarter. Chicago Partners Investment Group LLC lifted its stake in shares of Western Asset High Income Opportunity Fund by 1.2% during 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 purchasing an additional 4,559 shares during the last quarter. PNC Financial Services Group Inc. lifted its stake in shares of 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 purchasing an additional 5,000 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Envestnet Asset Management Inc. boosted its position in Western Asset High Income Opportunity Fund by 4.0% during the third quarter. Envestnet Asset Management Inc. now owns 131,959 shares of the closed-end fund’s stock valued at $507,000 after purchasing an additional 5,080 shares in the last quarter.

Western Asset High Income Opportunity Fund Stock Up 0.1%

Shares of NYSE HIO traded up $0.01 during trading hours on Tuesday, reaching $3.52. The stock had a trading volume of 73,938 shares, compared to its average volume of 366,045. Western Asset High Income Opportunity Fund has a 52-week low of $3.49 and a 52-week high of $4.05. The business’s fifty day moving average price is $3.62 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $3.68.

Western Asset High Income Opportunity Fund Announces Dividend

The firm also recently announced a monthly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, August 31st. Shareholders of record on Monday, August 24th will be given a dividend of $0.0355 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, August 24th. This represents a c) dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 12.1%.

About Western Asset High Income Opportunity Fund

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.