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<PAGE> PAGE 2
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<PAGE> PAGE 3
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<PAGE> PAGE 4
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<PAGE> PAGE 6
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<PAGE> PAGE 7
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<PAGE> PAGE 8
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<PAGE> PAGE 9
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SIGNATURE PAUL BROOK
TITLE CONTROLLER
[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>
