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

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 trading volume of 450,100 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is currently 1.9 days.

Western Asset High Income Opportunity Fund Stock Down 0.4 %

Shares of HIO stock opened at $3.93 on Thursday. Western Asset High Income Opportunity Fund has a 52-week low of $3.69 and a 52-week high of $4.07. The firm’s 50 day moving average price is $3.95 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $3.95.

Western Asset High Income Opportunity Fund Increases Dividend

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

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Western Asset High Income Opportunity Fund

A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the business. Strategic Financial Concepts LLC bought a new position in Western Asset High Income Opportunity Fund in the fourth quarter valued at approximately $82,000. Choreo LLC acquired a new stake in Western Asset High Income Opportunity Fund in the fourth quarter worth $58,000. Fourpath Capital Management LLC acquired a new stake in Western Asset High Income Opportunity Fund in the fourth quarter worth $61,000. Park Avenue Securities LLC raised its holdings in Western Asset High Income Opportunity Fund by 32.1% in the fourth quarter. Park Avenue Securities LLC now owns 16,247 shares of the closed-end fund’s stock worth $64,000 after purchasing an additional 3,951 shares during the period. Finally, Capital Investment Advisors LLC raised its holdings in Western Asset High Income Opportunity Fund by 3.1% in 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 purchasing an additional 105,435 shares during the period.

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.