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

Western Asset High Income Opportunity Fund Inc. (NYSE:HIO) was the recipient of a large increase in short interest during the month of May. As of May 29th, there was short interest totaling 145,068 shares, an increase of 102.0% from the May 14th total of 71,809 shares. Based on an average trading volume of 341,159 shares, the short-interest ratio is currently 0.4 days.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of the company. Rareview Capital LLC bought a new position in shares of Western Asset High Income Opportunity Fund during the 4th quarter worth about $2,279,000. Sit Investment Associates Inc. raised its holdings in Western Asset High Income Opportunity Fund by 33.2% in the 4th quarter. Sit Investment Associates Inc. now owns 2,235,264 shares of the closed-end fund’s stock valued at $8,293,000 after acquiring an additional 556,840 shares in the last quarter. Shaker Financial Services LLC increased its stake in Western Asset High Income Opportunity Fund by 191.0% in the fourth quarter. Shaker Financial Services LLC now owns 613,763 shares of the closed-end fund’s stock valued at $2,277,000 after acquiring an additional 402,861 shares during the period. Readystate Asset Management LP increased its stake in Western Asset High Income Opportunity Fund by 410.1% in the fourth quarter. Readystate Asset Management LP now owns 477,054 shares of the closed-end fund’s stock valued at $1,770,000 after acquiring an additional 383,537 shares during the period. Finally, Wolverine Asset Management LLC increased its stake in Western Asset High Income Opportunity Fund by 141.4% in the fourth quarter. Wolverine Asset Management LLC now owns 640,496 shares of the closed-end fund’s stock valued at $2,376,000 after acquiring an additional 375,140 shares during the period.

Western Asset High Income Opportunity Fund Stock Up 0.7%

Western Asset High Income Opportunity Fund stock traded up $0.03 on Monday, reaching $3.65. 148,420 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 370,107. Western Asset High Income Opportunity Fund has a twelve month low of $3.52 and a twelve month high of $4.05. The firm has a fifty day moving average price of $3.65 and a two-hundred day moving average price of $3.70.

Western Asset High Income Opportunity Fund Dividend Announcement

The company 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 11.7%.

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.