Western Asset High Income Opportunity Fund Inc. (NYSE:HIO) Short Interest Up 135.0% in June

Western Asset High Income Opportunity Fund Inc. (NYSE:HIO) was the recipient of a significant increase in short interest in the month of June. As of June 15th, there was short interest totalling 134,900 shares, an increase of 135.0% from the May 31st total of 57,400 shares. Based on an average daily volume of 392,900 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is currently 0.3 days.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Several large investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Weiss Asset Management LP bought a new stake in Western Asset High Income Opportunity Fund during the fourth quarter worth $50,000. Cetera Advisors LLC bought a new position in shares of Western Asset High Income Opportunity Fund in the first quarter valued at about $63,000. CTC Alternative Strategies Ltd. bought a new position in shares of Western Asset High Income Opportunity Fund in the fourth quarter valued at about $90,000. Quadrature Capital Ltd bought a new position in shares of Western Asset High Income Opportunity Fund in the fourth quarter valued at about $99,000. Finally, Bay Colony Advisory Group Inc d b a Bay Colony Advisors raised its position in shares of Western Asset High Income Opportunity Fund by 15.9% in the fourth quarter. Bay Colony Advisory Group Inc d b a Bay Colony Advisors now owns 28,990 shares of the closed-end fund’s stock valued at $112,000 after purchasing an additional 3,967 shares during the period.

Western Asset High Income Opportunity Fund Stock Up 0.8 %

Shares of Western Asset High Income Opportunity Fund stock traded up $0.03 on Friday, hitting $3.81. The company had a trading volume of 542,484 shares, compared to its average volume of 352,324. Western Asset High Income Opportunity Fund has a twelve month low of $3.52 and a twelve month high of $4.03. The stock has a 50-day moving average of $3.77 and a 200-day moving average of $3.86.

Western Asset High Income Opportunity Fund Increases Dividend

The firm also recently announced a monthly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, August 1st. Investors of record on Wednesday, July 24th will be issued a dividend of $0.036 per share. This is a boost from Western Asset High Income Opportunity Fund’s previous monthly dividend of $0.04. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, July 24th. This represents a $0.43 annualized dividend and a yield of 11.34%.

Western Asset High Income Opportunity Fund Company Profile

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