[ARTICLE] 6
[CIK] 0000910068
[NAME] HIGH INCOME OPPORTUNITY FUND INC.
<TABLE>
<S>                             <C>
[PERIOD-TYPE]                   YEAR
[FISCAL-YEAR-END]                          SEP-30-1997
[PERIOD-END]                               SEP-30-1997
[INVESTMENTS-AT-COST]                      804,728,726
[INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE]                     861,726,267
[RECEIVABLES]                               32,013,285
[ASSETS-OTHER]                                     731
[OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS]                                 0
[TOTAL-ASSETS]                             893,740,283
[PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES]                     9,871,294
[SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT]                              0
[OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES]                    1,180,372
[TOTAL-LIABILITIES]                         11,051,666
[SENIOR-EQUITY]                                      0
[PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON]                   886,031,311
[SHARES-COMMON-STOCK]                       71,020,622
[SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR]                       69,858,000
[ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT]                    2,386,575
[OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII]                               0
[ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS]                              0
[OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS]                    62,691,736
[ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC]                    56,962,467
[NET-ASSETS]                               882,688,617
[DIVIDEND-INCOME]                            7,090,976
[INTEREST-INCOME]                           83,814,705
[OTHER-INCOME]                                       0
[EXPENSES-NET]                              10,128,960
[NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME]                     80,776,721
[REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT]                     7,070,567
[APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT]                   40,292,499
[NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS]                       47,363,066
[EQUALIZATION]                                       0
[DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME]                   78,232,239
[DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS]                             0
[DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER]                                0
[NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD]                              0
[NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED]                          0
[SHARES-REINVESTED]                          1,162,622
[NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS]                      63,949,411
[ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR]                        438,920
[ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR]                            0
[OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR]                              0
[OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR]                 170,359,130
[GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES]                        9,638,822
[INTEREST-EXPENSE]                                   0
[GROSS-EXPENSE]                             10,128,960
[AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS]                       838,910,869
[PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN]                            11.72
[PER-SHARE-NII]                                  01.15
[PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC]                          00.68
[PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND]                             01.12
[PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS]                            0
[RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL]                                 0
[PER-SHARE-NAV-END]                              12.43
[EXPENSE-RATIO]                                  01.21
[AVG-DEBT-OUTSTANDING]                               0
[AVG-DEBT-PER-SHARE]                                 0
</TABLE>