Western Asset High Yield Defined Opportunity Fund Inc. (NYSE:HYI) Short Interest Down 62.1% in May

Western Asset High Yield Defined Opportunity Fund Inc. (NYSE:HYI) was the target of a significant decrease in short interest during the month of May. As of May 15th, there was short interest totaling 16,768 shares, a decrease of 62.1% from the April 30th total of 44,263 shares. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 46,973 shares, the short-interest ratio is currently 0.4 days.

Institutional Trading of Western Asset High Yield Defined Opportunity Fund

Large investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Jane Street Group LLC bought a new stake in shares of Western Asset High Yield Defined Opportunity Fund during the first quarter valued at approximately $207,000. Invesco Ltd. grew its stake in shares of Western Asset High Yield Defined Opportunity Fund by 4.7% during the second quarter. Invesco Ltd. now owns 76,276 shares of the company’s stock valued at $914,000 after purchasing an additional 3,447 shares during the last quarter. Bank of America Corp DE grew its stake in shares of Western Asset High Yield Defined Opportunity Fund by 9.9% during the second quarter. Bank of America Corp DE now owns 39,569 shares of the company’s stock valued at $474,000 after purchasing an additional 3,562 shares during the last quarter. Osaic Holdings Inc. grew its stake in shares of Western Asset High Yield Defined Opportunity Fund by 65.0% during the second quarter. Osaic Holdings Inc. now owns 20,792 shares of the company’s stock valued at $249,000 after purchasing an additional 8,189 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Jones Financial Companies Lllp grew its stake in shares of Western Asset High Yield Defined Opportunity Fund by 10.4% during the third quarter. Jones Financial Companies Lllp now owns 15,288 shares of the company’s stock valued at $179,000 after purchasing an additional 1,441 shares during the last quarter.

Western Asset High Yield Defined Opportunity Fund Stock Up 0.1%

Shares of HYI traded up $0.02 during trading hours on Friday, reaching $10.63. 58,048 shares of the company traded hands, compared to its average volume of 58,781. The stock’s fifty day moving average is $10.74 and its 200 day moving average is $10.98. Western Asset High Yield Defined Opportunity Fund has a 1-year low of $10.44 and a 1-year high of $12.13.

Western Asset High Yield Defined Opportunity Fund Announces Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a monthly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, August 31st. Shareholders of record on Monday, August 24th will be paid a dividend of $0.095 per share. This represents a c) annualized dividend and a yield of 10.7%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Monday, August 24th.

Western Asset High Yield Defined Opportunity Fund Company Profile

Western Asset High Yield Defined Opportunity Fund, Inc (NYSE: HYI) is a diversified closed-end management investment company that seeks to provide shareholders with a high level of current income and the potential for capital appreciation. Organized under the Investment Company Act of 1940, the fund pursues its objective by investing primarily in below-investment-grade fixed income securities, including high yield corporate debt, convertible bonds and other credit instruments. Its portfolio may also include unrated debt securities that the adviser deems to be of comparable quality.

Under normal market conditions, the fund allocates at least 80% of its managed assets to high yield securities issued by U.S.