Western Asset High Income Fund II (NYSE:HIX) Share Price Crosses Below Two Hundred Day Moving Average – What’s Next?

Shares of Western Asset High Income Fund II Inc. (NYSE:HIX) passed below its two hundred day moving average during trading on Wednesday . The stock has a two hundred day moving average of $4.05 and traded as low as $3.94. Western Asset High Income Fund II shares last traded at $3.9750, with a volume of 334,850 shares traded.

Western Asset High Income Fund II Stock Up 0.4%

The stock has a 50 day moving average of $3.96 and a 200 day moving average of $4.05.

Western Asset High Income Fund II Announces Dividend

The firm also recently announced a monthly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, August 31st. Shareholders of record on Monday, August 24th will be paid a dividend of $0.049 per share. The ex-dividend date is Monday, August 24th. This represents a c) annualized dividend and a yield of 14.8%.

Institutional Inflows and Outflows

Institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in the stock. Ashton Thomas Securities LLC boosted its holdings in shares of Western Asset High Income Fund II by 45.5% during the first quarter. Ashton Thomas Securities LLC now owns 16,000 shares of the closed-end fund’s stock valued at $64,000 after acquiring an additional 5,000 shares during the period. Absolute Investment Advisers LLC acquired a new stake in shares of Western Asset High Income Fund II in the first quarter valued at $209,000. World Investment Advisors acquired a new stake in shares of Western Asset High Income Fund II in the fourth quarter valued at $418,000. NWF Advisory Services Inc. boosted its stake in Western Asset High Income Fund II by 11.0% during the fourth quarter. NWF Advisory Services Inc. now owns 463,940 shares of the closed-end fund’s stock valued at $1,930,000 after buying an additional 46,140 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Virtu Financial LLC bought a new position in Western Asset High Income Fund II during the fourth quarter valued at about $196,000.

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.