WARNING: THE EDGAR SYSTEM ENCOUNTERED ERROR(S) WHILE PROCESSING THIS SCHEDULE.

<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE> 6
<CIK> 0000797480
<NAME> NATURAL RESOURCES A
       
<S>                             <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   YEAR
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          OCT-31-1997
<PERIOD-END>                               OCT-31-1997
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST>                      112,802,692
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE>                     118,360,803
<RECEIVABLES>                                1,624,545
<ASSETS-OTHER>                                       0
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS>                           246,145
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                             127,740,493
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES>                       361,978
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT>                              0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES>                    8,678,232
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES>                          9,040,210
<SENIOR-EQUITY>                                      0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON>                    56,792,027
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK>                        1,958,283
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR>                        2,201,056
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT>                            0
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII>                         329,174
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS>                              0
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS>                     1,543,834
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC>                     5,525,267
<NET-ASSETS>                               118,700,283
<DIVIDEND-INCOME>                            1,200,014
<INTEREST-INCOME>                              392,909
<OTHER-INCOME>                                       0
<EXPENSES-NET>                               2,562,728
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME>                      (969,805)
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT>                    11,756,075
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT>                  (7,149,300)
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS>                        3,636,970
<EQUALIZATION>                                       0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME>                      783,335
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS>                             0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER>                                0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD>                     12,511,559
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED>                 12,787,207
<SHARES-REINVESTED>                             32,875
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS>                    (13,391,230)
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR>                        969,082
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR>                            0
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR>                              0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR>                  12,330,425
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES>                           74,634
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                   0
<GROSS-EXPENSE>                              2,562,728
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS>                        52,539,722
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN>                            22.95
<PER-SHARE-NII>                                 (0.12)
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC>                           0.73
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND>                              0.33
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS>                            0
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL>                                 0
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END>                              23.23
<EXPENSE-RATIO>                                   1.51
<AVG-DEBT-OUTSTANDING>                               0
<AVG-DEBT-PER-SHARE>                                 0
        


</TABLE>