Western Asset High Income Fund II Inc. (NYSE:HIX) Short Interest Up 94.3% in July

Western Asset High Income Fund II Inc. (NYSE:HIX) was the recipient of a significant growth in short interest in the month of July. As of July 31st, there was short interest totaling 482,007 shares, a growth of 94.3% from the July 15th total of 248,069 shares. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 361,662 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is presently 1.3 days.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Western Asset High Income Fund II

A number of institutional investors have recently bought and sold shares of the stock. UBS Group AG increased its holdings in shares of Western Asset High Income Fund II by 7.6% during the 4th quarter. UBS Group AG now owns 3,906,673 shares of the closed-end fund’s stock worth $16,252,000 after buying an additional 276,280 shares during the last quarter. GraniteShares Advisors LLC acquired a new position in Western Asset High Income Fund II in the fourth quarter valued at $2,762,000. United Asset Strategies Inc. acquired a new position in Western Asset High Income Fund II in the fourth quarter valued at $70,000. Closed End Fund Advisors Inc. purchased a new stake in Western Asset High Income Fund II during the fourth quarter valued at about $50,000. Finally, Total Wealth Planning & Management Inc. purchased a new stake in Western Asset High Income Fund II during the fourth quarter valued at about $301,000.

Western Asset High Income Fund II Stock Up 0.5%

NYSE:HIX traded up $0.02 during mid-day trading on Monday, reaching $3.95. The company’s stock had a trading volume of 377,552 shares, compared to its average volume of 341,293. The company’s fifty day simple moving average is $3.94 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $4.00. Western Asset High Income Fund II has a twelve month low of $3.75 and a twelve month high of $4.40.

Western Asset High Income Fund II Dividend Announcement

The business also recently disclosed a monthly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, November 30th. Stockholders of record on Friday, November 20th will be issued a dividend of $0.049 per share. This represents a c) annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 14.9%. The ex-dividend date is Friday, November 20th.

About Western Asset High Income Fund II

Western Asset High Income Fund II (NYSE: HIX) is a closed-end management investment company that seeks to provide high current income by investing primarily in below-investment-grade debt instruments. The fund pursues a diversified portfolio of high-yield corporate bonds, senior loans, mortgage- and asset-backed securities, and emerging-market debt, aiming to generate attractive yield while managing credit and interest rate risk.

The fund may employ leverage through borrowings and the issuance of preferred shares to enhance its income potential.