Western Asset Emerging Markets Debt Fund Inc. (NYSE:EMD) Short Interest Up 65.5% in April

Western Asset Emerging Markets Debt Fund Inc. (NYSE:EMD) saw a large increase in short interest in April. As of April 15th, there was short interest totalling 44,200 shares, an increase of 65.5% from the March 31st total of 26,700 shares. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 215,900 shares, the short-interest ratio is currently 0.2 days.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Western Asset Emerging Markets Debt Fund

A number of institutional investors and hedge funds have recently modified their holdings of the company. Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC lifted its position in Western Asset Emerging Markets Debt Fund by 40.3% during the first quarter. Allspring Global Investments Holdings LLC now owns 1,251,352 shares of the company’s stock valued at $12,025,000 after purchasing an additional 359,404 shares in the last quarter. Wells Fargo & Company MN grew its stake in shares of Western Asset Emerging Markets Debt Fund by 18.9% during the fourth quarter. Wells Fargo & Company MN now owns 719,729 shares of the company’s stock valued at $6,629,000 after buying an additional 114,263 shares during the last quarter. UBS Group AG grew its stake in shares of Western Asset Emerging Markets Debt Fund by 0.5% during the third quarter. UBS Group AG now owns 696,464 shares of the company’s stock valued at $5,781,000 after buying an additional 3,338 shares during the last quarter. B. Riley Wealth Advisors Inc. grew its stake in shares of Western Asset Emerging Markets Debt Fund by 10.6% during the fourth quarter. B. Riley Wealth Advisors Inc. now owns 510,119 shares of the company’s stock valued at $4,698,000 after buying an additional 48,934 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Advisor Partners II LLC bought a new position in shares of Western Asset Emerging Markets Debt Fund during the third quarter valued at approximately $3,739,000. 33.05% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Western Asset Emerging Markets Debt Fund Price Performance

Western Asset Emerging Markets Debt Fund stock opened at $8.98 on Friday. The stock has a fifty day simple moving average of $9.22 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $8.95. Western Asset Emerging Markets Debt Fund has a 12 month low of $7.85 and a 12 month high of $9.67.

Western Asset Emerging Markets Debt Fund Dividend Announcement

The company also recently declared a monthly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, June 3rd. Stockholders of record on Thursday, May 23rd will be paid a $0.0845 dividend. The ex-dividend date is Wednesday, May 22nd. This represents a $1.01 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 11.29%.

About Western Asset Emerging Markets Debt Fund

Western Asset Emerging Markets Debt Fund Inc is an open ended fixed-income mutual fund launched and managed by Legg Mason Partners Fund Advisor, LLC. It is co-managed by Western Asset Management Company, Western Asset Management Company Limited and Western Asset Management Company Pte. Ltd. The fund invests in fixed income markets of emerging market countries across the globe.