Western Asset High Income Opportunity Fund Inc. as of December 31, 2011

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Western Asset High Income Opportunity Fund Inc. (NYSE: HIO) announces its portfolio composition as of December 31, 2011.

Investment Objective: The Fund seeks a high current income. Capital appreciation is a secondary objective.

Portfolio Composition*:
Asset Allocation
High Yield Corporate Bonds		82.0%
Investment Grade Corporate Bonds		7.0%
Emerging Market Debt		2.8%
Corporates External Currency		2.6%
Sovereign Debt External Currency		0.2%
Bank Loans		2.7%
Mortgage-Backed Securities		0.2%
Cash & Other Securities		5.3%
Credit Quality Allocation^**
BBB		1.7%
BB		16.9%
B		46.3%
CCC		22.1%
CC		2.3%
C		1.1%
D		1.4%
Not Rated		8.1%
Top Ten High Yield Industries
Consumer Cyclical		15.5%
Communications		12.2%
Consumer Non Cyclical		9.8%
Energy		8.4%
Capital Goods		7.4%
Transportation		7.2%
Basic Industry		6.9%
Electric		6.6%
Technology		3.5%
Natural Gas		1.6%
Top Five Emerging Market Countries
Mexico		1.1%
Russia		0.6%
India		0.5%
South Africa		0.5%
Indonesia		0.1%
Currency Allocation
US Dollar		99.9%
Euros		0.1%
Average Life (years)		5.9
Effective Duration (years)		3.7
Average Coupon (%)		8.6
Portfolio Statistics:
Inception Date	November 16, 1993
Inception Price		$12.50
Total Assets		$443,772,133
Loans		0.0%
Preferred Shares		0.0%
Reverse Repos		0.0%
Market Price		$6.17
NAV		$5.88
(Daily NAV is available on market quotation systems using the symbol XHIOX.)
Distribution Rate	$0.0425 per share
Frequency	Monthly (Declared quarterly, paid monthly)

* Portfolio holdings and weightings are historical and are presented here for informational purposes only. They are subject to change at any time.

** Credit quality is a measure of a bond issuer's ability to repay interest and principal in a timely manner. The credit ratings shown are based on each portfolio security's rating as provided by Standard and Poor's, Moody's Investors Service and/or Fitch Ratings, Ltd. and typically range from AAA (highest) to D (lowest). For this purpose, if two or more of the agencies have assigned differing ratings to a security, the lowest rating is used. Securities that are unrated by all three agencies are reflected as such. The credit quality of the investments in the Fund's portfolio does not apply to the stability or safety of the Fund. These ratings are updated monthly and may change over time. Please note, the Fund itself has not been rated by an independent rating agency.

Western Asset High Income Opportunity Fund Inc., a diversified closed-end investment management company, is advised by Legg Mason Partners Fund Advisor, LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Legg Mason, Inc., and is sub-advised by Western Asset Management Company, an affiliate of the advisor.

An investment in the Fund involves risk, including loss of principal. Investment return and the value of shares will fluctuate. Data and commentary provided in this press release are for informational purposes only. Legg Mason and its affiliates do not engage in selling shares of the Fund.

For more information, please call Fund Investor Services at 888-777-0102 or consult the Fund’s web site at www.leggmason.com/cef.

FN1112207