<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE> 6
       
<S>                             <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-END>                               SEP-30-1997
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST>                      164,229,591
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE>                     242,423,644
<RECEIVABLES>                                  933,424
<ASSETS-OTHER>                                  37,500
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS>                                 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                             243,394,568
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES>                             0
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT>                              0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES>                   88,241,772
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES>                         88,241,772
<SENIOR-EQUITY>                                  4,761
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON>                    68,528,390
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK>                        4,760,655
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR>                        4,300,682
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT>                            0
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII>                               0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS>                      8,425,592
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS>                             0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC>                    78,194,053
<NET-ASSETS>                               155,152,796
<DIVIDEND-INCOME>                            1,847,604
<INTEREST-INCOME>                            1,233,268
<OTHER-INCOME>                                 107,500
<EXPENSES-NET>                               3,814,357
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME>                      (615,985)
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT>                     4,812,355
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT>                   36,522,589
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS>                       40,718,959
<EQUALIZATION>                                       0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME>                            0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS>                             0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER>                                0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD>                        459,973
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED>                          0
<SHARES-REINVESTED>                                  0
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS>                      40,718,959
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR>                              0
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR>                            0
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR>                              0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR>                           0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES>                        2,554,766
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                             415,495
<GROSS-EXPENSE>                              3,814,357
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS>                       129,188,052
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN>                            24.00
<PER-SHARE-NII>                                 (0.13)
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC>                           8.72
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND>                                 0
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS>                            0
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL>                                 0
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END>                              32.59
<EXPENSE-RATIO>                                   2.95
<AVG-DEBT-OUTSTANDING>                       4,508,681
<AVG-DEBT-PER-SHARE>                              0.95
        

</TABLE>