[ARTICLE] 6
[CIK] 0000910068
[NAME] HIGH INCOME OPPORTUNITY FUND INC.
<TABLE>
<S>                             <C>
[PERIOD-TYPE]                   YEAR
[FISCAL-YEAR-END]                          SEP-30-1998
[PERIOD-END]                               SEP-30-1998
[INVESTMENTS-AT-COST]                      828,353,698
[INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE]                     800,692,061
[RECEIVABLES]                               20,113,978
[ASSETS-OTHER]                                       0
[OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS]                                 0
[TOTAL-ASSETS]                             820,806,039
[PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES]                     6,635,390
[SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT]                              0
[OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES]                    4,543,791
[TOTAL-LIABILITIES]                         11,179,181
[SENIOR-EQUITY]                                      0
[PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON]                   897,547,694
[SHARES-COMMON-STOCK]                       72,016,610
[SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR]                       71,020,622
[ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT]                            0
[OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII]                       1,966,392
[ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS]                              0
[OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS]                    57,109,572
[ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC]                  (28,844,872)
[NET-ASSETS]                               809,626,858
[DIVIDEND-INCOME]                            4,340,649
[INTEREST-INCOME]                           83,076,434
[OTHER-INCOME]                                       0
[EXPENSES-NET]                              10,358,123
[NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME]                     77,058,960
[REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT]                     4,505,920
[APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT]                 (85,807,339)
[NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS]                      (4,242,459)
[EQUALIZATION]                                       0
[DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME]                   81,031,027
[DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS]                             0
[DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER]                                0
[NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD]                              0
[NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED]                          0
[SHARES-REINVESTED]                            995,988
[NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS]                    (73,061,759)
[ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR]                      2,386,575
[ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR]                            0
[OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR]                              0
[OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR]                  62,691,736
[GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES]                       10,065,212
[INTEREST-EXPENSE]                                   0
[GROSS-EXPENSE]                             10,358,123
[AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS]                       875,035,605
[PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN]                            12.43
[PER-SHARE-NII]                                  01.08
[PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC]                         (1.14)
[PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND]                             01.13
[PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS]                            0
[RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL]                                 0
[PER-SHARE-NAV-END]                              11.24
[EXPENSE-RATIO]                                  01.18
[AVG-DEBT-OUTSTANDING]                               0
[AVG-DEBT-PER-SHARE]                                 0
</TABLE>