[ARTICLE] 6
[CIK] 0000874835
[NAME] SMITH BARNEY SERIES FUND
[SERIES]
   [NUMBER] 6
   [NAME] EMERGING GROWTH
<TABLE>
<S>                             <C>
[PERIOD-TYPE]                   YEAR
[FISCAL-YEAR-END]                          DEC-31-1996
[PERIOD-END]                               DEC-31-1996
[INVESTMENTS-AT-COST]                           13,862
[INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE]                          18,812
[RECEIVABLES]                                      166
[ASSETS-OTHER]                                      31
[OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS]                                 0
[TOTAL-ASSETS]                                  19,009
[PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES]                             0
[SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT]                              0
[OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES]                          108
[TOTAL-LIABILITIES]                                108
[SENIOR-EQUITY]                                      0
[PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON]                        11,675
[SHARES-COMMON-STOCK]                            1,194
[SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR]                            1,269
[ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT]                            0
[OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII]                             (1)
[ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS]                          2,277
[OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS]                             0
[ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC]                         4,950
[NET-ASSETS]                                    18,901
[DIVIDEND-INCOME]                                   68
[INTEREST-INCOME]                                   52
[OTHER-INCOME]                                       0
[EXPENSES-NET]                                     241
[NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME]                          (121)
[REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT]                             2
[APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT]                          935
[NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS]                            3,091
[EQUALIZATION]                                       0
[DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME]                            0
[DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS]                           446
[DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER]                                0
[NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD]                            139
[NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED]                        244
[SHARES-REINVESTED]                                  0
[NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS]                           3,090
[ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR]                              0
[ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR]                            0
[OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR]                              0
[OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR]                           0
[GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES]                              142
[INTEREST-EXPENSE]                                   0
[GROSS-EXPENSE]                                    142
[AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS]                            18,999
[PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN]                            13.76
[PER-SHARE-NII]                                 (0.10)
[PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC]                          02.55
[PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND]                                 0
[PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS]                        00.38
[RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL]                                 0
[PER-SHARE-NAV-END]                              15.83
[EXPENSE-RATIO]                                  01.27
[AVG-DEBT-OUTSTANDING]                               0
[AVG-DEBT-PER-SHARE]                                 0
</TABLE>