<TABLE> <S> <C>
<ARTICLE> 6
<CIK> 0001086641
<NAME> MERRILL LYNCH GLOBAL FINANCIAL SERVICES FUND, INC.
<SERIES>
<NUMBER> 004
<NAME> CLASS D
<S> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> 6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> SEP-30-2000
<PERIOD-START> OCT-01-1999
<PERIOD-END> MAR-31-2000
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST> 64830248
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE> 67299061
<RECEIVABLES> 0
<ASSETS-OTHER> 130733
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS> 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 67429794
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES> 0
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES> 149589
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES> 149589
<SENIOR-EQUITY> 0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON> 65434554
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK> 911894
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR> 2500
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT> (70913)
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII> 0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS> (552249)
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS> 0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC> 2468813
<NET-ASSETS> 9341316
<DIVIDEND-INCOME> 0
<INTEREST-INCOME> 0
<OTHER-INCOME> 322741
<EXPENSES-NET> (393654)
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME> (70913)
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT> (552249)
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT> 2468813
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS> 1845651
<EQUALIZATION> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER> 0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD> 1035176
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED> (125782)
<SHARES-REINVESTED> 0
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS> 67180205
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR> 0
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES> 0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0
<GROSS-EXPENSE> 393654
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS> 8410216
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN> 10.00
<PER-SHARE-NII> .01
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC> .23
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND> 0
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS> 0
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL> 0
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END> 10.24
<EXPENSE-RATIO> 2.06
</TABLE>
