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

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

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Western Asset High Income Opportunity Fund

Large investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Park Avenue Securities LLC increased its stake 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 valued at $64,000 after purchasing an additional 3,951 shares in the last quarter. Capital Investment Advisors LLC raised its stake in Western Asset High Income Opportunity Fund by 3.1% during the 4th 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 during the period. Encompass More Asset Management bought a new position in Western Asset High Income Opportunity Fund in the third quarter worth approximately $62,000. Pin Oak Investment Advisors Inc. boosted its holdings in Western Asset High Income Opportunity Fund by 12.3% in the third quarter. Pin Oak Investment Advisors Inc. now owns 256,468 shares of the closed-end fund’s stock worth $1,038,000 after acquiring an additional 28,060 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Horizon Kinetics Asset Management LLC bought a new stake in shares of Western Asset High Income Opportunity Fund during the third quarter valued at approximately $41,000.

Western Asset High Income Opportunity Fund Trading Up 0.3 %

Shares of NYSE HIO traded up $0.01 during trading on Tuesday, reaching $3.93. The company had a trading volume of 288,201 shares, compared to its average volume of 523,573. The company’s fifty day moving average price is $3.96 and its 200-day moving average price is $3.95. Western Asset High Income Opportunity Fund has a 12 month low of $3.69 and a 12 month high of $4.07.

Western Asset High Income Opportunity Fund Dividend Announcement

The firm also recently declared a monthly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, February 3rd. Shareholders of record on Friday, January 24th will be issued a dividend of $0.0355 per share. The ex-dividend date is Friday, January 24th. This represents a $0.43 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 10.84%.

About Western Asset High Income Opportunity Fund

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.