<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE> 6
<CURRENCY> US DOLLARS
       
<S>                             <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          MAR-31-1997
<PERIOD-START>                             APR-01-1996
<PERIOD-END>                               SEP-30-1996
<EXCHANGE-RATE>                                      1
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST>                       2329436370
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE>                      3828570045
<RECEIVABLES>                                  3247275
<ASSETS-OTHER>                                  375257
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS>                                 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                              3832192577
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES>                      17619234
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT>                              0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES>                      2446662
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES>                           20065896
<SENIOR-EQUITY>                                      0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON>                    2145601116
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK>                         58509598
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR>                         57284323
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT>                      8144336
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII>                               0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS>                      160290164
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS>                             0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC>                    1498091065
<NET-ASSETS>                                3812126681
<DIVIDEND-INCOME>                             19288532
<INTEREST-INCOME>                              5557855
<OTHER-INCOME>                                       0
<EXPENSES-NET>                                13374607
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME>                       11471780
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT>                     160520741
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT>                     63405881
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS>                        235398402
<EQUALIZATION>                                       0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME>                      9067415
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS>                     147830702
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER>                                0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD>                        1499011
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED>                    2616261
<SHARES-REINVESTED>                            2342525
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS>                       156827050
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR>                        5739971
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR>                    147600125
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR>                              0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR>                           0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES>                         11936807
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                   0
<GROSS-EXPENSE>                               13374607
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS>                        3674077082
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN>                            63.81
<PER-SHARE-NII>                                    .20
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC>                           3.89
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND>                               .16
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS>                         2.59
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL>                                 0
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END>                              65.15
<EXPENSE-RATIO>                                   0.74
<AVG-DEBT-OUTSTANDING>                               0
<AVG-DEBT-PER-SHARE>                                 0
        

</TABLE>