[ARTICLE] 6
[CIK] 0000910068
[NAME] HIGH INCOME OPPORTUNITY FUND INC.
<TABLE>
<S>                             <C>
[PERIOD-TYPE]                   YEAR
[FISCAL-YEAR-END]                          SEP-30-1996
[PERIOD-END]                               SEP-30-1996
[INVESTMENTS-AT-COST]                      786,159,538
[INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE]                     802,828,951
[RECEIVABLES]                               22,126,979
[ASSETS-OTHER]                                       0
[OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS]                                 0
[TOTAL-ASSETS]                             824,955,930
[PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES]                     2,219,917
[SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT]                              0
[OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES]                    3,996,807
[TOTAL-LIABILITIES]                          6,216,724
[SENIOR-EQUITY]                                      0
[PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON]                   871,989,448
[SHARES-COMMON-STOCK]                       69,858,000
[SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR]                                0
[ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT]                      438,920
[OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII]                               0
[ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS]                              0
[OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS]                  (70,359,130)
[ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC]                    16,669,968
[NET-ASSETS]                               818,739,206
[DIVIDEND-INCOME]                            5,240,994
[INTEREST-INCOME]                           84,323,456
[OTHER-INCOME]                              89,564,450
[EXPENSES-NET]                               9,792,596
[NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME]                     79,771,854
[REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT]                       918,351
[APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT]                   13,960,981
[NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS]                       94,651,186
[EQUALIZATION]                                       0
[DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME]                   77,961,528
[DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS]                             0
[DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER]                                0
[NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD]                              0
[NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED]                          0
[SHARES-REINVESTED]                                  0
[NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS]                      16,689,658
[ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR]                              0
[ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR]                            0
[OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR]                              0
[OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR]                (71,486,707)
[GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES]                        9,318,853
[INTEREST-EXPENSE]                                   0
[GROSS-EXPENSE]                              9,792,596
[AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS]                       808,467,629
[PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN]                            11.48
[PER-SHARE-NII]                                  01.14
[PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC]                          00.22
[PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND]                                 0
[PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS]                        01.12
[RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL]                                 0
[PER-SHARE-NAV-END]                              11.72
[EXPENSE-RATIO]                                  01.21
[AVG-DEBT-OUTSTANDING]                               0
[AVG-DEBT-PER-SHARE]                                 0
</TABLE>