BlackRock Debt Strategies Fund, Inc. (NYSE:DSU) Sees Large Growth in Short Interest

BlackRock Debt Strategies Fund, Inc. (NYSE:DSU) saw a large growth in short interest during the month of March. As of March 15th, there was short interest totalling 102,000 shares, a growth of 45.7% from the February 28th total of 70,000 shares. Based on an average daily volume of 241,900 shares, the days-to-cover ratio is currently 0.4 days.

Institutional Trading of BlackRock Debt Strategies Fund

Hedge funds have recently made changes to their positions in the company. Steel Grove Capital Advisors LLC purchased a new position in BlackRock Debt Strategies Fund during the fourth quarter worth about $62,000. Ameritas Advisory Services LLC acquired a new stake in BlackRock Debt Strategies Fund in the fourth quarter valued at $109,000. Bay Colony Advisory Group Inc d b a Bay Colony Advisors acquired a new position in shares of BlackRock Debt Strategies Fund during the 4th quarter worth $116,000. StoneX Group Inc. purchased a new position in shares of BlackRock Debt Strategies Fund in the 4th quarter valued at about $139,000. Finally, Landscape Capital Management L.L.C. acquired a new stake in shares of BlackRock Debt Strategies Fund in the fourth quarter valued at about $145,000. Institutional investors and hedge funds own 24.29% of the company’s stock.

BlackRock Debt Strategies Fund Trading Down 0.2 %

Shares of NYSE:DSU traded down $0.03 during trading on Tuesday, reaching $10.42. The company had a trading volume of 199,650 shares, compared to its average volume of 193,793. BlackRock Debt Strategies Fund has a fifty-two week low of $10.11 and a fifty-two week high of $11.19. The stock’s fifty day moving average price is $10.64 and its 200 day moving average price is $10.80.

BlackRock Debt Strategies Fund Dividend Announcement

The company also recently disclosed a monthly dividend, which was paid on Monday, March 31st. Shareholders of record on Friday, March 14th were given a dividend of $0.0987 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend was Friday, March 14th. This represents a $1.18 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 11.38%.

About BlackRock Debt Strategies Fund

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.