Morgan Stanley Emerging Markets Debt Fund (NYSE:MSD) Short Interest Up 76.5% in June

Morgan Stanley Emerging Markets Debt Fund (NYSE:MSD) was the recipient of a large increase in short interest in the month of June. As of June 30th, there was short interest totaling 33,801 shares, an increase of 76.5% from the June 15th total of 19,149 shares. Based on an average trading volume of 117,969 shares, the short-interest ratio is currently 0.3 days. Approximately 0.2% of the shares of the stock are sold short.

Morgan Stanley Emerging Markets Debt Fund Stock Performance

Shares of MSD remained flat at $7.30 during midday trading on Friday. The stock had a trading volume of 37,572 shares, compared to its average volume of 87,711. Morgan Stanley Emerging Markets Debt Fund has a one year low of $6.91 and a one year high of $7.94. The company’s 50 day moving average price is $7.32 and its two-hundred day moving average price is $7.44.

Morgan Stanley Emerging Markets Debt Fund Increases Dividend

The business also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, July 15th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, June 30th were paid a $0.15 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Tuesday, June 30th. This is a positive change from Morgan Stanley Emerging Markets Debt Fund’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.14. This represents a $0.60 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 8.2%.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Morgan Stanley Emerging Markets Debt Fund

A number of hedge funds have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the business. Rareview Capital LLC bought a new stake in shares of Morgan Stanley Emerging Markets Debt Fund during the first quarter valued at about $2,092,000. Wealthstar Advisors LLC boosted its position in shares of Morgan Stanley Emerging Markets Debt Fund by 5.4% in the first quarter. Wealthstar Advisors LLC now owns 82,886 shares of the company’s stock valued at $582,000 after acquiring an additional 4,282 shares during the period. Everstar Asset Management LLC boosted its position in shares of Morgan Stanley Emerging Markets Debt Fund by 21.9% in the first quarter. Everstar Asset Management LLC now owns 256,538 shares of the company’s stock valued at $1,801,000 after acquiring an additional 46,168 shares during the period. Fiera Capital Corp grew its stake in Morgan Stanley Emerging Markets Debt Fund by 44.7% during the fourth quarter. Fiera Capital Corp now owns 166,173 shares of the company’s stock valued at $1,228,000 after acquiring an additional 51,368 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Valeo Financial Advisors LLC grew its stake in Morgan Stanley Emerging Markets Debt Fund by 6.4% during the fourth quarter. Valeo Financial Advisors LLC now owns 58,055 shares of the company’s stock valued at $429,000 after acquiring an additional 3,500 shares in the last quarter.

About Morgan Stanley Emerging Markets Debt Fund

Morgan Stanley Emerging Markets Debt Fund (NYSE:MSD) is a closed-end management investment company that seeks to provide a high level of current income. The fund primarily invests in U.S. dollar-denominated sovereign and corporate debt securities issued by governments and corporations in emerging market countries.

MSD’s investment strategy emphasizes diversification across regions, sectors and issuers. The fund’s portfolio managers use fundamental credit analysis to identify opportunities in markets such as Latin America, Eastern Europe, the Middle East, Africa and Asia.