[ARTICLE] 6                                            
[CIK] 0000706453
[NAME] MANAGED ASSETS TRUST
<TABLE>
<S>                             <C>
[PERIOD-TYPE]                   YEAR
[FISCAL-YEAR-END]                          DEC-31-1996
[PERIOD-END]                               DEC-31-1996
[INVESTMENTS-AT-COST]                      162,004,962
[INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE]                     187,681,956
[RECEIVABLES]                                1,538,038
[ASSETS-OTHER]                                     518
[OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS]                                 0
[TOTAL-ASSETS]                             189,220,512
[PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES]                       519,223
[SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT]                              0
[OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES]                       90,808
[TOTAL-LIABILITIES]                            610,031
[SENIOR-EQUITY]                                      0
[PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON]                   158,673,246
[SHARES-COMMON-STOCK]                       12,594,215
[SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR]                       11,045,728
[ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT]                      689,249
[OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII]                               0
[ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS]                      3,570,992
[OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS]                             0
[ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC]                    25,676,994
[NET-ASSETS]                               188,610,481
[DIVIDEND-INCOME]                            2,160,122
[INTEREST-INCOME]                            5,087,435
[OTHER-INCOME]                                       0
[EXPENSES-NET]                               1,026,111
[NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME]                      6,221,446
[REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT]                    13,430,793
[APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT]                    3,373,072
[NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS]                       23,025,311
[EQUALIZATION]                                       0
[DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME]                   10,914,123
[DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS]                    17,258,729
[DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER]                                0
[NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD]                        469,580
[NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED]                    847,611
[SHARES-REINVESTED]                          1,926,518
[NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS]                      23,025,311
[ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR]                      5,381,926
[ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR]                    7,915,343
[OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR]                              0
[OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR]                           0
[GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES]                          891,042
[INTEREST-EXPENSE]                                   0
[GROSS-EXPENSE]                              1,026,111
[AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS]                       177,249,173
[PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN]                            15.50
[PER-SHARE-NII]                                  00.46
[PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC]                          01.50
[PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND]                             00.89
[PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS]                        01.59
[RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL]                                 0
[PER-SHARE-NAV-END]                              14.98
[EXPENSE-RATIO]                                  00.58
[AVG-DEBT-OUTSTANDING]                               0
[AVG-DEBT-PER-SHARE]                                 0
</TABLE>