Short Interest in Western Asset Diversified Income Fund (NYSE:WDI) Declines By 55.3%

Western Asset Diversified Income Fund (NYSE:WDI) was the target of a large decrease in short interest in the month of May. As of May 15th, there was short interest totaling 60,403 shares, a decrease of 55.3% from the April 30th total of 134,986 shares. Based on an average trading volume of 163,800 shares, the short-interest ratio is currently 0.4 days.

Western Asset Diversified Income Fund Stock Up 0.2%

Shares of NYSE WDI traded up $0.03 during midday trading on Friday, hitting $13.81. 125,077 shares of the company’s stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 209,322. Western Asset Diversified Income Fund has a 12-month low of $12.91 and a 12-month high of $15.28. The business’s fifty day moving average price is $13.57 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $13.84.

Western Asset Diversified Income Fund Announces Dividend

The business also recently declared a monthly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, August 31st. Shareholders of record on Monday, August 24th will be paid a $0.1485 dividend. This represents a c) dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 12.9%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, August 24th.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. NewEdge Advisors LLC grew its position in shares of Western Asset Diversified Income Fund by 4.7% in the 1st quarter. NewEdge Advisors LLC now owns 37,160 shares of the company’s stock worth $499,000 after buying an additional 1,655 shares during the period. Royal Bank of Canada lifted its holdings in Western Asset Diversified Income Fund by 9.0% in the first quarter. Royal Bank of Canada now owns 243,125 shares of the company’s stock valued at $3,268,000 after acquiring an additional 20,145 shares during the period. Punch & Associates Investment Management Inc. purchased a new position in shares of Western Asset Diversified Income Fund in the first quarter worth approximately $159,000. Cetera Investment Advisers lifted its position in Western Asset Diversified Income Fund by 20.8% during the first quarter. Cetera Investment Advisers now owns 52,380 shares of the company’s stock valued at $704,000 after purchasing an additional 9,006 shares in the last quarter. Finally, First Trust Advisors LP raised its stake in Western Asset Diversified Income Fund by 11.0% during the 1st quarter. First Trust Advisors LP now owns 181,772 shares of the company’s stock worth $2,443,000 after acquiring an additional 18,017 shares during the period.

Western Asset Diversified Income Fund (NYSE: WDI) is a closed-end management investment company sponsored and managed by Western Asset Management Company, LLC. Launched in mid-2009, the Fund seeks to provide current income with a secondary objective of capital preservation through diversified exposure to a broad range of fixed-income and income-oriented securities.

The Fund’s investment strategy emphasizes below-investment-grade debt instruments, including high-yield corporate bonds, bank loans, mortgage- and asset-backed securities, and emerging market sovereign and corporate issues.