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) saw a large increase in short interest in 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 short-interest ratio is presently 0.3 days.

Institutional Trading of Western Asset High Income Opportunity Fund

Several hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of HIO. Capital Investment Advisors LLC increased its position in shares of Western Asset High Income Opportunity Fund by 0.9% during the 4th quarter. Capital Investment Advisors LLC now owns 3,063,534 shares of the closed-end fund’s stock valued at $11,825,000 after purchasing an additional 28,041 shares during the last quarter. Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC increased its position in shares of Western Asset High Income Opportunity Fund by 10.0% during the 4th quarter. Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC now owns 1,095,947 shares of the closed-end fund’s stock valued at $4,230,000 after purchasing an additional 100,000 shares during the last quarter. City of London Investment Management Co. Ltd. increased its position in shares of Western Asset High Income Opportunity Fund by 44.4% during the 1st quarter. City of London Investment Management Co. Ltd. now owns 1,025,343 shares of the closed-end fund’s stock valued at $3,999,000 after purchasing an additional 315,213 shares during the last quarter. Chicago Partners Investment Group LLC increased its position in shares of Western Asset High Income Opportunity Fund by 5.9% during the 4th quarter. Chicago Partners Investment Group LLC now owns 498,992 shares of the closed-end fund’s stock valued at $1,956,000 after purchasing an additional 27,775 shares during the last quarter. Finally, RFG Advisory LLC increased its position in shares of Western Asset High Income Opportunity Fund by 63.0% during the 1st quarter. RFG Advisory LLC now owns 487,772 shares of the closed-end fund’s stock valued at $1,902,000 after purchasing an additional 188,510 shares during the last quarter.

Western Asset High Income Opportunity Fund Stock Up 0.8 %

Shares of HIO traded up $0.03 during mid-day trading on Friday, hitting $3.81. 542,484 shares of the stock were exchanged, compared to its average volume of 352,324. Western Asset High Income Opportunity Fund has a 52-week low of $3.52 and a 52-week high of $4.03. The firm has a 50-day moving average of $3.77 and a two-hundred day moving average of $3.86.

Western Asset High Income Opportunity Fund Increases Dividend

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

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.