Morgan Stanley Emerging Markets Debt Fund (NYSE:MSD) Trading 0.1% Higher – Time to Buy?

Shares of Morgan Stanley Emerging Markets Debt Fund (NYSE:MSD) traded up 0.1% during trading on Monday . The stock traded as high as $7.38 and last traded at $7.3040. 33,167 shares traded hands during mid-day trading, a decline of 54% from the average session volume of 72,110 shares. The stock had previously closed at $7.30.

Morgan Stanley Emerging Markets Debt Fund Stock Performance

The company’s 50-day moving average price is $7.37 and its 200-day moving average price is $7.45.

Morgan Stanley Emerging Markets Debt Fund Cuts Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which was paid on Wednesday, April 15th. Stockholders of record on Tuesday, March 31st were given a dividend of $0.14 per share. This represents a $0.56 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 7.7%. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Tuesday, March 31st.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Morgan Stanley Emerging Markets Debt Fund

Several institutional investors have recently modified their holdings of the company. Royal Bank of Canada lifted its position in shares of Morgan Stanley Emerging Markets Debt Fund by 1.6% during the 1st quarter. Royal Bank of Canada now owns 452,466 shares of the company’s stock worth $3,176,000 after purchasing an additional 7,294 shares during the last quarter. Invesco Ltd. lifted its position in shares of Morgan Stanley Emerging Markets Debt Fund by 1.7% during the 4th quarter. Invesco Ltd. now owns 333,888 shares of the company’s stock worth $2,467,000 after purchasing an additional 5,579 shares during the last quarter. Thomas J. Herzfeld Advisors Inc. purchased a new stake in shares of Morgan Stanley Emerging Markets Debt Fund during the 4th quarter worth $2,386,000. Ameriprise Financial Inc. lifted its position in shares of Morgan Stanley Emerging Markets Debt Fund by 10.8% during the 3rd quarter. Ameriprise Financial Inc. now owns 304,542 shares of the company’s stock worth $2,245,000 after purchasing an additional 29,630 shares during the last quarter. Finally, LPL Financial LLC lifted its position in shares of Morgan Stanley Emerging Markets Debt Fund by 2.4% during the 4th quarter. LPL Financial LLC now owns 296,281 shares of the company’s stock worth $2,190,000 after purchasing an additional 6,935 shares during 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.