BlackRock Debt Strategies Fund, Inc. (NYSE:DSU) Short Interest Up 98.4% in May

BlackRock Debt Strategies Fund, Inc. (NYSE:DSU - Get Free Report) was the recipient of a significant increase in short interest during the month of May. As of May 31st, there was short interest totalling 330,600 shares, an increase of 98.4% from the May 15th total of 166,600 shares. Based on an average daily volume of 238,500 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is currently 1.4 days. Approximately 0.6% of the shares of the stock are sold short.

BlackRock Debt Strategies Fund Price Performance

Shares of NYSE:DSU traded down $0.11 during midday trading on Friday, hitting $10.46. The company had a trading volume of 198,306 shares, compared to its average volume of 216,439. BlackRock Debt Strategies Fund has a twelve month low of $8.72 and a twelve month high of $11.19. The business's 50-day simple moving average is $10.27 and its 200-day simple moving average is $10.53.

BlackRock Debt Strategies Fund Announces Dividend

The business also recently declared a monthly dividend, which will be paid on Monday, June 30th. Investors of record on Friday, June 13th will be issued a $0.0987 dividend. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, June 13th. This represents a $1.18 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 11.33%.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On BlackRock Debt Strategies Fund

Hedge funds and other institutional investors have recently made changes to their positions in the stock. Cape Investment Advisory Inc. increased its holdings in shares of BlackRock Debt Strategies Fund by 69.7% in the first quarter. Cape Investment Advisory Inc. now owns 5,600 shares of the financial services provider's stock valued at $58,000 after purchasing an additional 2,300 shares during the last quarter. Steel Grove Capital Advisors LLC acquired a new stake in BlackRock Debt Strategies Fund during the fourth quarter worth $62,000. Bay Colony Advisory Group Inc d b a Bay Colony Advisors acquired a new stake in BlackRock Debt Strategies Fund during the fourth quarter worth $116,000. Astoria Portfolio Advisors LLC. acquired a new stake in BlackRock Debt Strategies Fund during the first quarter worth $119,000. Finally, Ameritas Advisory Services LLC increased its stake in BlackRock Debt Strategies Fund by 9.9% during the first quarter. Ameritas Advisory Services LLC now owns 11,127 shares of the financial services provider's stock worth $119,000 after acquiring an additional 1,000 shares during the last quarter. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 24.29% of the company's stock.

BlackRock Debt Strategies Fund Company Profile

BlackRock Debt Strategies Fund, Inc is a closed ended fixed income mutual fund launched by BlackRock, Inc The fund is managed by BlackRock Advisors, LLC. It invests in fixed income markets of the United States. The fund primarily invests in a diversified portfolio of companies' debt instruments, including corporate loans, which are rated in the lower rating categories of the established rating services (BBB or lower by S&P's or Baa or lower by Moody's) or unrated debt instruments, which are in the judgment of the investment adviser of equivalent quality.