Short Interest in Western Asset High Income Opportunity Fund Inc. (NYSE:HIO) Rises By 724.5%

Western Asset High Income Opportunity Fund Inc. (NYSE:HIO) was the recipient of a significant increase in short interest during the month of January. As of January 15th, there was short interest totalling 857,500 shares, an increase of 724.5% from the December 31st total of 104,000 shares. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 450,100 shares, the short-interest ratio is currently 1.9 days.

Western Asset High Income Opportunity Fund Price Performance

NYSE:HIO opened at $3.94 on Wednesday. Western Asset High Income Opportunity Fund has a one year low of $3.69 and a one year high of $4.07. The firm has a 50-day moving average of $3.95 and a 200-day moving average of $3.95.

Western Asset High Income Opportunity Fund Increases Dividend

The business also recently disclosed a dividend, which will be paid on Monday, February 3rd. Shareholders of record on Monday, January 27th will be issued a dividend of $0.0355 per share. This is a positive change from Western Asset High Income Opportunity Fund’s previous dividend of $0.03. This represents a yield of 10.81%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, January 24th.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

A number of large investors have recently modified their holdings of HIO. Capital Investment Advisors LLC grew its holdings in Western Asset High Income Opportunity Fund by 3.1% during the fourth quarter. Capital Investment Advisors LLC now owns 3,516,137 shares of the closed-end fund’s stock worth $13,818,000 after buying an additional 105,435 shares in the last quarter. Pathstone Holdings LLC grew its stake in shares of Western Asset High Income Opportunity Fund by 32.2% in the 3rd quarter. Pathstone Holdings LLC now owns 2,965,491 shares of the closed-end fund’s stock worth $12,011,000 after acquiring an additional 722,483 shares in the last quarter. Penserra Capital Management LLC purchased a new stake in shares of Western Asset High Income Opportunity Fund in the third quarter valued at about $4,858,000. Chicago Partners Investment Group LLC lifted its position in shares of Western Asset High Income Opportunity Fund by 8.1% during the third quarter. Chicago Partners Investment Group LLC now owns 551,872 shares of the closed-end fund’s stock valued at $2,196,000 after purchasing an additional 41,420 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Thrivent Financial for Lutherans boosted its holdings in Western Asset High Income Opportunity Fund by 1.1% during the third quarter. Thrivent Financial for Lutherans now owns 531,334 shares of the closed-end fund’s stock worth $2,152,000 after purchasing an additional 6,000 shares during the last quarter.

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.