[ARTICLE] 6
[CIK] 0000797480
[NAME] NATURAL RESOURCES A
<TABLE>
<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>