Western Asset Emerging Markets Debt Fund Inc. (NYSE:EMD) Short Interest Up 99.7% in July

Western Asset Emerging Markets Debt Fund Inc. (NYSE:EMD) saw a large growth in short interest in the month of July. As of July 31st, there was short interest totaling 256,574 shares, a growth of 99.7% from the July 15th total of 128,485 shares. Based on an average trading volume of 189,486 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is currently 1.4 days. Approximately 0.9% of the shares of the company are short sold.

Institutional Trading of Western Asset Emerging Markets Debt Fund

Institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in the stock. Waterfront Wealth Inc. bought a new position in shares of Western Asset Emerging Markets Debt Fund in the first quarter valued at approximately $106,000. Equitable Holdings Inc. acquired a new stake in Western Asset Emerging Markets Debt Fund in the fourth quarter worth approximately $118,000. Evolve Private Wealth LLC acquired a new stake in Western Asset Emerging Markets Debt Fund in the fourth quarter worth approximately $124,000. HRT Financial LP bought a new position in Western Asset Emerging Markets Debt Fund during the 4th quarter valued at $127,000. Finally, Titiun Yejiel bought a new position in Western Asset Emerging Markets Debt Fund during the 2nd quarter valued at $129,000. 33.05% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Western Asset Emerging Markets Debt Fund Price Performance

Shares of EMD traded down $0.04 during trading hours on Friday, reaching $10.48. 161,029 shares of the company’s stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 213,551. Western Asset Emerging Markets Debt Fund has a twelve month low of $9.60 and a twelve month high of $11.30. The business’s fifty day simple moving average is $10.60 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $10.61.

Western Asset Emerging Markets Debt Fund Increases Dividend

The business also recently announced a monthly dividend, which will be paid on Wednesday, September 30th. Shareholders of record on Wednesday, September 23rd will be paid a dividend of $0.095 per share. This represents a c) annualized dividend and a yield of 10.9%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Wednesday, September 23rd. This is a positive change from Western Asset Emerging Markets Debt Fund’s previous monthly dividend of $0.03.

Western Asset Emerging Markets Debt Fund Company Profile

Western Asset Emerging Markets Debt Fund Inc (NYSE: EMD) is a closed-end management investment company launched in December 2004 and managed by Western Asset Management Company, a global fixed-income specialist. The fund seeks to provide a high level of current income by investing primarily in debt securities issued by sovereign, quasi-sovereign and corporate issuers in emerging markets. Its diversified approach combines top-down macroeconomic analysis with bottom-up credit research to identify attractive risk-adjusted opportunities across developing economies.

EMD’s portfolio spans a wide range of instruments, including sovereign government bonds, supranational obligations, corporate credits and other fixed-income securities.