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 target 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 volume of 450,100 shares, the short-interest ratio is currently 1.9 days.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

A number of hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Capital Investment Advisors LLC raised its holdings in shares of Western Asset High Income Opportunity Fund by 3.1% in 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 purchasing an additional 105,435 shares during the period. Pathstone Holdings LLC increased its position in Western Asset High Income Opportunity Fund by 32.2% in the third quarter. Pathstone Holdings LLC now owns 2,965,491 shares of the closed-end fund’s stock worth $12,011,000 after buying an additional 722,483 shares during the last quarter. Penserra Capital Management LLC bought a new stake in shares of Western Asset High Income Opportunity Fund in the third quarter valued at $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 3rd quarter. Chicago Partners Investment Group LLC now owns 551,872 shares of the closed-end fund’s stock valued at $2,196,000 after buying an additional 41,420 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Thrivent Financial for Lutherans grew its stake in shares of Western Asset High Income Opportunity Fund by 1.1% during the 3rd quarter. Thrivent Financial for Lutherans now owns 531,334 shares of the closed-end fund’s stock worth $2,152,000 after acquiring an additional 6,000 shares during the period.

Western Asset High Income Opportunity Fund Stock Up 0.4 %

Shares of Western Asset High Income Opportunity Fund stock opened at $3.94 on Wednesday. Western Asset High Income Opportunity Fund has a 1 year low of $3.69 and a 1 year high of $4.07. The stock has a fifty day moving average price of $3.95 and a 200-day moving average price 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 given a $0.0355 dividend. This is a positive change from Western Asset High Income Opportunity Fund’s previous dividend of $0.03. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, January 24th. This represents a yield of 10.81%.

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.