Western Asset Diversified Income Fund (NYSE:WDI) Short Interest Up 47.7% in March

Western Asset Diversified Income Fund (NYSE:WDI) was the recipient of a large increase in short interest during the month of March. As of March 31st, there was short interest totaling 103,428 shares, an increase of 47.7% from the March 15th total of 70,044 shares. Based on an average daily trading volume, of 207,480 shares, the short-interest ratio is currently 0.5 days.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On Western Asset Diversified Income Fund

A number of large investors have recently made changes to their positions in WDI. Royal Bank of Canada grew its stake in shares of Western Asset Diversified Income Fund by 15.1% during the 1st quarter. Royal Bank of Canada now owns 212,244 shares of the company’s stock valued at $3,067,000 after purchasing an additional 27,777 shares during the period. Integrated Wealth Concepts LLC bought a new stake in shares of Western Asset Diversified Income Fund during the 1st quarter valued at about $531,000. Jane Street Group LLC grew its stake in shares of Western Asset Diversified Income Fund by 8.8% during the 1st quarter. Jane Street Group LLC now owns 17,284 shares of the company’s stock valued at $250,000 after purchasing an additional 1,393 shares during the period. Cetera Investment Advisers grew its stake in shares of Western Asset Diversified Income Fund by 10.9% during the 2nd quarter. Cetera Investment Advisers now owns 30,768 shares of the company’s stock valued at $457,000 after purchasing an additional 3,025 shares during the period. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. grew its stake in shares of Western Asset Diversified Income Fund by 35.0% during the 2nd quarter. JPMorgan Chase & Co. now owns 143,759 shares of the company’s stock valued at $2,133,000 after purchasing an additional 37,259 shares during the period.

Western Asset Diversified Income Fund Trading Down 0.3%

Shares of Western Asset Diversified Income Fund stock traded down $0.04 during trading hours on Thursday, reaching $13.86. 88,156 shares of the stock traded hands, compared to its average volume of 228,314. The company has a 50 day moving average price of $13.71 and a 200 day moving average price of $14.04. Western Asset Diversified Income Fund has a one year low of $12.91 and a one year high of $15.28.

Western Asset Diversified Income Fund Announces Dividend

The company also recently declared a monthly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, May 29th. Shareholders of record on Thursday, May 21st will be paid a dividend of $0.1485 per share. This represents a c) dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 12.9%. The ex-dividend date is Thursday, May 21st.

Western Asset Diversified Income Fund (NYSE: WDI) is a closed-end management investment company sponsored and managed by Western Asset Management Company, LLC. Launched in mid-2009, the Fund seeks to provide current income with a secondary objective of capital preservation through diversified exposure to a broad range of fixed-income and income-oriented securities.

The Fund’s investment strategy emphasizes below-investment-grade debt instruments, including high-yield corporate bonds, bank loans, mortgage- and asset-backed securities, and emerging market sovereign and corporate issues.