[ARTICLE] 6
[CIK] 0000910068
[NAME] HIGH INCOME OPPORTUNITY FUND INC.
<TABLE>
<S>                             <C>
[PERIOD-TYPE]                   6-MOS
[FISCAL-YEAR-END]                          SEP-30-1997
[PERIOD-END]                               MAR-31-1997
[INVESTMENTS-AT-COST]                      775,198,519
[INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE]                     784,633,428
[RECEIVABLES]                               23,227,373
[ASSETS-OTHER]                              22,040,193
[OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS]                                 0
[TOTAL-ASSETS]                             829,900,994
[PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES]                     6,145,201
[SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT]                              0
[OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES]                    3,372,002
[TOTAL-LIABILITIES]                          9,517,203
[SENIOR-EQUITY]                                      0
[PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON]                             0
[SHARES-COMMON-STOCK]                       69,858,000
[SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR]                       69,858,000
[ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT]                    2,807,059
[OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII]                               0
[ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS]                              0
[OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS]                    64,815,343
[ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC]                    10,402,627
[NET-ASSETS]                               820,383,791
[DIVIDEND-INCOME]                            3,435,364
[INTEREST-INCOME]                           42,898,975
[OTHER-INCOME]                                       0
[EXPENSES-NET]                               4,985,436
[NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME]                     41,348,903
[REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT]                     5,543,787
[APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT]                  (6,267,341)
[NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS]                        (723,554)
[EQUALIZATION]                                       0
[DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME]                   38,980,764
[DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS]                             0
[DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER]                                0
[NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD]                              0
[NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED]                          0
[SHARES-REINVESTED]                                  0
[NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS]                      40,625,349
[ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR]                        438,920
[ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR]                            0
[OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR]                              0
[OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR]                (70,359,130)
[GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES]                        4,740,688
[INTEREST-EXPENSE]                                   0
[GROSS-EXPENSE]                              4,985,436
[AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS]                       827,899,184
[PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN]                            11.72
[PER-SHARE-NII]                                  00.59
[PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC]                         (0.01)
[PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND]                             00.56
[PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS]                            0
[RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL]                                 0
[PER-SHARE-NAV-END]                              11.74
[EXPENSE-RATIO]                                  01.21
[AVG-DEBT-OUTSTANDING]                               0
[AVG-DEBT-PER-SHARE]                                 0
</TABLE>