BOND FUND OF AMERICA INC
N-30D, 1997-09-08
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SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT FOR THE SIX MONTHS ENDED JUNE 30, 1997
 
THE BOND FUND OF AMERICA
 
THE AMERICAN FUNDS GROUP (R)
 
[photo and background watermark of various forms of currency]
 
THE BOND FUND OF AMERICA (SM)  
 
Seeks as high a level of current income as is consistent with preservation of
capital through a diversified portfolio of bonds and other fixed-income
obligations.
 
RESULTS AT A GLANCE
for periods ended 6/30/97
ASSUMING DISTRIBUTIONS REINVESTED                Lifetime
OR INTEREST COMPOUNDED          (since fund's inception on 5/28/74)
                             6-Month  12-Month  Total   Average Annual
                             Return   Return    Return Compound Return
The Bond Fund of America       +3.9%   +10.4%   +885.8%      +10.4%
Lehman Brothers
Aggregate Bond Index           +3.1    +8.2     +740.7       +9.7 /1/ 
Lipper Corporate A-Rated 
Bond Funds Average /2/         +2.7    +7.7     +705.5       +9.5
Average savings institution/3/ +2.1    +4.2     +351.1       +6.7
Consumer Price Index /4/       +1.1    +2.3     +229.8       +5.3
 
The bond market indexes are unmanaged.
/1/From May 31, 1974 through December 31, 1975, the Lehman Brothers Corporate
Bond Index was used because the Lehman Brothers Aggregate Bond Index did not
yet exist.
 
/2/Lipper results do not reflect the effect of sales charges.
 
/3/Based on figures from U.S. League of Savings Institutions and the Federal
Reserve Board, reflecting all kinds of savings deposits (maximum allowable
interest rates were imposed by law until 1983). Savings accounts are
guaranteed; the fund is not.
 
/4/Computed from data supplied by the U.S. Department of Labor, Bureau of Labor
Statistics.
 
Fund results in this report were computed without a sales charge unless
otherwise indicated. Here are the average annual compound returns with all
distributions reinvested for periods ended June 30, 1997, assuming payment of
the 4.75% maximum sales charge at the beginning of the stated periods (sales
charges are lower for accounts of $25,000 or more): 
 
10 years: +8.79%; 5 years: +7.49%; 12 months: +5.15%. 
 
The fund's 30-day yield as of July 31, 1997, calculated in accordance with the
Securities and Exchange Commission formula, was 6.19%.
 
THE FIGURES IN THIS REPORT REFLECT PAST RESULTS AND ARE NOT PREDICTIVE OF
FUTURE RESULTS. SHARE PRICE AND RETURN WILL VARY, SO YOU MAY LOSE MONEY BY
INVESTING IN THE FUND. THE SHORTER THE TIME PERIOD OF YOUR INVESTMENT, THE
GREATER THE POSSIBILITY OF LOSS. FUND SHARES ARE NOT DEPOSITS OR OBLIGATIONS
OF, OR INSURED OR GUARANTEED BY, THE U.S. GOVERNMENT, ANY FINANCIAL
INSTITUTION, THE FEDERAL DEPOSIT INSURANCE CORPORATION, OR ANY OTHER AGENCY,
ENTITY OR PERSON.
 
FELLOW SHAREHOLDERS:
 
     During the first half of 1997, shareholders continued to benefit from The
Bond Fund of America's research-driven, value-oriented investment approach and
its flexibility to seek attractive opportunities throughout the fixed-income
marketplace. 
 
     Interest rates followed a familiar seesaw pattern over the first half of
the year, rising and falling as the pace of economic activity waxed and waned.
Over the first three months, low unemployment, coupled with reports that
business activity was accelerating rapidly, raised concerns that inflationary
pressures might begin to build. Last March, that prompted the Federal Reserve
Board to increase the federal funds rate, a key short-term interest rate, to
5.5% from 5.25%. Longer term interest rates rose as well, and bond prices,
which move inversely to interest rates, declined. 
 
     As the second quarter began, indications that the economy was cooling
suggested that additional credit tightening on the part of the Federal Reserve
was not imminent and bond prices rallied. As a result, bond yields ended the
six-month period about where they were when it began. Inflation all the while
remained remarkably benign.
 
[begin sidebar]
Interest rates followed a seesaw pattern....inflation, meanwhile, remained
remarkably benign.[end sidebar]
 
     In this environment, the value of your holdings in The Bond Fund of
America increased 3.9% over the six months ended June 30 if, like most
shareholders, you reinvested monthly dividends totaling 47 cents a share. By
comparison, the Salomon Brothers Broad Investment-Grade (BIG) Index and the
Lehman Brothers Aggregate Bond Index both rose 3.1%, also with income
reinvested (the indexes are unmanaged). Meanwhile, the 123 comparable bond
funds tracked by Lipper Analytical Services gained 2.7% on average.
 
[begin sidebar]
The fund's relatively strong showing reflects good individual bond
selection.[end sidebar]
 
     The fund's relatively strong showing reflects to a significant degree good
individual bond selection. Many of the high-grade and high-yield corporate
bonds in the portfolio continued to do well relative to Treasuries with
comparable maturities, due in part to healthy corporate earnings.
Mortgage-backed and asset-backed securities again provided the fund with a
yield advantage and strong relative total returns. And a number of our
investments in non-U.S. bonds also made a positive contribution to results in
an otherwise challenging environment for such issues. In each of these areas we
have continued to strengthen and intensify our research efforts in recent
years. In keeping with BFA's quality standards, more than 60% of the portfolio
is invested in securities rated A or better by Moody's or Standard & Poor's. 
 
     While BFA did better than the broad market indexes and most comparable
funds over the past six months and 12 months, we should note that there have
been and will be periods in which BFA lags these benchmarks and also periods in
which the value of an investment in the fund declines. But as you can see in
the table on the inside front cover, the fund's record since its inception in
1974 is a testament to the potential for extensive research and professional
management to add value over time.
 
     We look forward to reporting to you again in six months.
 
Cordially, 
[/s/ Paul G. Haaga, Jr.]    [/s/ Abner D. Goldstine]
Paul G. Haaga, Jr.           Abner D. Goldstine
Chairman of the Board        President
 
August 14, 1997
 
[watermark of various forms of currency throughout report]
 
<TABLE>
THE BOND FUND OF AMERICA                                         Principal       Market  Percent of
INVESTMENT PORTFOLIO JUNE 30, 1997                                  Amount        Value  Net Assets
                                                                     (000)        (000)
<S>                                                           <C>          <C>          <C>
ELECTRICAL & GAS UTILITIES
Utilities: Electrical & Gas
Big Rivers Electric Corp. 10.70% 2017                               17,000       18,042        .24%
CMS Energy 9.50% 1997                                                2,000        2,015          .03
Colorado Interstate Gas Co. 6.85% 2037                               2,500        2,474          .04
Columbia Gas System, Inc. Series A, 6.39% 2000                      10,000        9,890          .13
Long Island Lighting Co. 8.90% 2019                                  5,000        5,211          .07
                                                                             ----------  ----------
                                                                                 37,632          .51
                                                                             ----------  ----------
INDUSTRIAL & SERVICE
Appliances & Household Goods
Knoll Group, Inc. 10.875% 2006                                         811          892          .01
Lifestyle Furnishings International Ltd. 10.875% 2006                5,500        6,160          .09
                                                                             ----------  ----------
                                                                                  7,052          .10
                                                                             ----------  ----------
Beverages & Tobacco
Canandaigua Wine Co., Inc.:
 8.75% 2003                                                          3,000        3,022          .09
 Series C, 8.75% 2003                                                4,000        4,010
Dr Pepper Bottling Co. of Texas 10.25% 2000                          6,500        6,711          .09
RJR Nabisco, Inc. 7.625% 2003                                        8,000        7,880          .11
                                                                             ----------  ----------
                                                                                 21,623          .29
                                                                             ----------  ----------
Broadcasting & Publishing
American Media Operations, Inc. 11.625% 2004                        14,500       15,805          .21
American Radio Systems Corp. 9.00% 2006                              5,550        5,661          .08
Chancellor Radio Broadcasting Co.:
 9.375% 2004                                                        12,500       12,812          .37
 8.75% 2007                                                         14,625       14,406
Grupo Televisa, SA:
 11.375% 2003                                                        5,000        5,482          .18
 0%/13.25% 2008 /1/                                                 12,000        8,340
Newsquest Capital PLC 11.00% 2006                                    4,750        5,178          .07
RBS Participacoes SA 11.00% 2007 /2/                                10,000       10,538          .14
STC Broadcasting, Inc. 11.00% 2007 /2/                               3,250        3,461          .05
Sun Media Corp. 9.50% 2007 /2/                                       3,500        3,535          .05
Young Broadcasting Inc. 10.125% 2005                                 2,500        2,600          .04
                                                                             ----------  ----------
                                                                                 87,818         1.19
                                                                             ----------  ----------
Construction & Housing
Geberit International SA 10.125% 2007 /2/                          DM2,750        1,712          .02
Kaufman and Broad Home Corp. 10.375% 1999                            7,500        7,556          .10
M.D.C. Holdings, Inc. 11.125% 2003                                  10,050       10,854          .15
                                                                             ----------  ----------
                                                                                 20,122          .27
                                                                             ----------  ----------
Data Processing & Reproduction
Apple Computer, Inc. 6.50% 2004                                      3,000        2,520          .03
AST Research, Inc. convertible notes 0% 2013                        31,500       12,915          .17
Data General Corp. 7.75% convertible debentures 2001                 5,400        7,236          .10
Maxtor Corp. 5.75% convertible debentures 2012                       3,000        2,100          .03
Unisys Corp.:
 8.25% convertible debentures 2000                                  20,000       20,450          .37
 11.75% 2004                                                         6,000        6,555
                                                                             ----------  ----------
                                                                                 51,776          .70
                                                                             ----------  ----------
Diversified Media & Cable Television
Bell Cablemedia PLC 0%/11.95% 2004 /1/                              43,500       39,259          .53
Cablevision Industries Corp.:
 10.75% 2004                                                         1,000        1,034          .08
 9.875% 2013                                                         5,000        5,175
Comcast Cable Communications, Inc.: /2/
 8.375% 2007                                                        12,000       12,694          .28
 8.875% 2017                                                         3,000        3,270
 8.50% 2027                                                          5,000        5,395
Comcast Corp.:
 10.25% 2001                                                        13,000       14,170          .39
 1.125% convertible debentures 2007                                 25,000       14,500
Comcast UK Cable Partners Ltd. 0%/11.20% 2007 /1/                   21,000       15,750          .21
Esat Holdings Ltd. 0%/12.50% 2007 /1/ /2/                            4,000        2,375          .03
Globo Comunicacoes E Partcipacoes Ltd.:
 10.50% 2006 /2/                                                    13,100       13,919          .22
 10.50% 2006                                                         2,000        2,125
Heartland Wireless Communications, Inc. Units, 13.00%
 2003 /2/                                                            4,500        1,553          .02
International CableTel Inc.: /1/
 0%/10.875% 2003                                                     9,500        8,075          .44
 0%/12.75% 2005                                                     17,750       13,668
 0%/12.75% 2007 /2/                                                 10,000       10,300
Multicanal Participacoes SA, 12.625% 2004                            9,250       10,573          .14
News America Holdings Inc.:
 8.625% 2014                                                         3,250        2,372          .31
 7.43% 2026                                                         20,500       20,816
Rogers Communications Inc.:
 10.875% 2004                                                        3,500        3,666          .22
 0% convertible debentures 2004                                     30,000       12,450
TCI Communications, Inc.:
 8.00% 2005                                                         20,000       20,320          .39
 debentures 8.75% 2015                                               7,500        7,861
Tele-Communications, Inc.:
 9.80% 2012                                                         10,000       11,446          .48
 8.75% 2023                                                         13,000       12,973
 9.25% 2023                                                         10,000       10,424
Tele West PLC:
 9.625% 2006                                                         4,700        4,841          .31
 0%/11.00% 2007 /1/                                                 25,000       18,000
Time Warner Inc.:
 6.10% 2001                                                         24,000       22,989         1.41
 8.18% 2007                                                         10,000       10,411
 10.15% 2012                                                         7,500        9,100
 9.125% 2013                                                        25,000       27,643
 0% convertible debentures 1997                                     10,000        3,925
 0% convertible debentures 2013                                     67,500       31,134
TKR Cable I, Inc. 10.50% 2007                                       27,500       30,328          .41
Vanguard Cellular Systems, Inc. 9.375% 2006                          6,000        6,060          .08
Viacom International Inc.:
 9.125% 1999                                                         5,000        5,125          .16
 10.25% 2001                                                         6,100        6,670
Videotron Holdings PLC 0%/11.125% 2004 /1/                          20,500       18,450          .25
                                                                             ----------  ----------
                                                                                470,839         6.36
                                                                             ----------  ----------
Electrical & Electronics
Fairchild Semiconductor Corp. 10.125% 2007 /2/                       3,000        3,180          .04
Hyundai Semiconductor America, Inc.:
 8.25% 2004 /2/                                                      2,500        2,527          .35
 8.625% 2007                                                        22,500       22,914
Pan Pacific Industrial Investments PLC 0% 2007 /2/                  33,500       15,052          .20
                                                                             ----------  ----------
                                                                                 43,673          .59
                                                                             ----------  ----------
Energy & Related Companies
Benton Oil and Gas Co. 11.625% 2003                                  5,750        6,332          .09
BP America Inc. 10.00% 2018                                          4,000        4,305          .06
California Energy Co., Inc.:
 9.875% 2003                                                        14,000       14,898          .67
 0%/10.25% 2004 /1/                                                 32,100       34,514
Cliffs Drilling Co. 10.25% 2003                                     15,750       16,774          .23
Falcon Drilling Co., Inc.:
 9.75% 2001                                                          1,000        1,040          .07
 8.875% 2003                                                         4,500        4,556
Forcenergy Inc.:
 9.50% 2006                                                          2,500        2,563          .10
 8.50% 2007                                                          5,000        4,875
Global Marine, Inc. 12.75% 1999                                      3,250        3,404          .05
Gulf Canada Resources Ltd. 9.25% 2004                                5,000        5,238          .07
Kelley Oil & Gas Corp. 10.375% 2006                                  8,750        9,013          .12
Mariner Energy, Inc. 10.50% 2006                                     3,500        3,675          .05
McDermott Inc.:
 9.375% 2002                                                        14,250       14,941          .33
 9.375% 2006                                                         9,500        9,643
Mesa Operating Co. 10.625% 2006                                     17,750       20,146          .27
Ocean Energy 8.875% 2007 /2/                                        11,000       10,959          .15
Oil Co. Ltd. 8.90% 2000 /2/                                         20,000       20,400          .27
OXYMAR 7.50% 2016                                                    8,500        8,146          .11
Parker & Parsley Petroleum Co. 8.875% 2005                           5,000        5,448          .07
Petrozuata Finance Inc. 7.63% 2009 /2/                              16,000       16,101          .22
Pogo Producing Co. 8.75% 2007 /2/                                    2,250        2,261          .03
YPF SA 8.00% 2004                                                    1,404        1,430          .02
                                                                             ----------  ----------
                                                                                220,662         2.98
                                                                             ----------  ----------
Food Retailing
Allied Supermarkets Inc. 6.625% 1998                                 1,729        1,720          .02
Bruno's Inc. 10.50% 2005                                             9,250        9,319          .13
Carr-Gottstein Co. 12.00% 2005                                       9,000        9,990          .13
Quality Food Centers, Inc. 8.70% 2007 /2/                            9,500        9,405          .13
Stater Bros. Holdings Inc. 11.00% 2001                               1,500        1,622          .02
                                                                             ----------  ----------
                                                                                 32,056          .43
                                                                             ----------  ----------
Forest Products & Paper
Container Corp. of America:
 10.75% 2002                                                         4,800        5,184          .54
 9.75% 2003                                                         25,000       26,250
 11.25% 2004                                                         8,000        8,640
Copamex Industrias, SA de CV 11.375% 2004 /2/                       11,675       12,609          .17
Grupo Industrial Durango, SA de CV:
 12.00% 2001                                                         3,000        3,274          .19
 12.625% 2003                                                        9,375       10,570
Pacific Lumber Co. 10.50% 2003                                         500          515          .01
                                                                             ----------  ----------
                                                                                 67,042          .91
                                                                             ----------  ----------
General Retailing & Merchandising
Barnes & Noble, Inc. 11.875% 2003                                    1,000        1,085          .01
Loehmann's Inc. 11.875% 2003                                         3,000        3,030          .04
Woolworth Corp.:
 6.98% 2001                                                         12,000       11,929          .27
 7.00% 2001                                                          6,865        6,798
 8.50% 2022                                                          1,000        1,050
                                                                             ----------  ----------
                                                                                 23,892          .32
                                                                             ----------  ----------
Health & Personal Care
Allegiance Corp. 7.00% 2026                                          5,000        4,996          .07
Integrated Health Services, Inc.: /2/
 10.25% 2006                                                         9,350        9,981          .21
 9.50% 2007                                                          5,425        5,547
Mariner Health Group, Inc. 9.50% 2006                                6,500        6,695          .09
Merit Behaviorial Care Corp. 11.50%  2005                            3,000        3,330          .04
Paracelsus Healthcare Corp. 10.00% 2006                             20,825       21,242          .29
Regency Health Services, Inc. 9.875% 2002                            2,000        2,050          .03
Revlon Worldwide Corp. 10.75% 2001                                  11,450        7,672          .10
Unison Health 13.00% 2006 /2/                                        5,000        4,050          .06
Universal Health Services, Inc. 8.75% 2005                           1,500        1,575          .02
                                                                             ----------  ----------
                                                                                 67,138          .91
                                                                             ----------  ----------
Leisure & Tourism
AMF Group Inc.:
 10.875% 2006                                                        4,750        5,130          .15
 0%/12.25% 2006 /1/                                                  8,250        5,868
Boyd Gaming Corp. 9.25% 2003                                         6,500        6,500          .09
California Hotel Finance Corp. 11.00% 2002                          13,250       13,946          .19
Discovery Zone 0% convertible debentures 2013                       28,500           71          .00
Foodmaker, Inc.:
 9.25% 1999                                                          2,000        2,060          .10
 9.75% 2002                                                          4,780        4,923
Four Seasons Hotels Inc. 9.125% 2000                                 6,000        6,405          .09
Rio Hotel & Casino, Inc. 9.50% 2007                                 10,500       10,815          .14
Station Casinos, Inc.:
 Series A, 9.625% 2003                                              10,250       10,122          .15
 Series B, 9.625% 2003                                               1,325        1,312
Sun International Hotels Ltd., Sun International North
 America, Inc. 9.00% 2007                                            5,250        5,348          .07
Wyndham Hotel Corp. 10.50% 2006                                      4,000        4,480          .06
                                                                             ----------  ----------
                                                                                 76,980         1.04
                                                                             ----------  ----------
Machinery & Engineering
John Deere Capital Corp. 8.625% 2019                                16,850       17,908          .24
Newport News Shipbuilding Inc. 9.25% 2006                            5,000        5,225          .07
Westinghouse Air Brake Co. 9.375% 2005                               3,750        3,825          .05
                                                                             ----------  ----------
                                                                                 26,958          .36
                                                                             ----------  ----------
Metals
Acme Metals Inc.:
 12.50% 2002                                                         4,500        4,927          .20
 0%/13.50% 2004 /1/                                                  9,000        9,945
AK Steel Corp.:
 10.75% 2004                                                         6,125        6,584          .22
 9.125% 2006                                                         9,500        9,690
Altos Hornos De Mexico: /2/
 11.375% 2002                                                        1,000        1,062          .04
 11.875% 2004                                                        2,000        2,150
Inco Ltd.:
9.875% 2019                                                          7,500        8,090          .34
9.60% 2022                                                          16,000       17,353
Kaiser Aluminum and Chemical Corp.:
 9.875% 2002                                                         8,000        8,200          .43
 12.75% 2003                                                        12,000       13,035
 Series B, 10.875% 2006                                              1,000        1,070
 Series C, 10.875% 2006                                              8,000        8,600
UCAR Global Enterprises Inc. 12.00% 2005                             3,430        3,859          .05
                                                                             ----------  ----------
                                                                                 94,565         1.28
                                                                             ----------  ----------
Miscellaneous Materials & Commodities
Anchor Glass Container Corp. 11.25% 2005 /2/                         7,000        7,525          .10
Consumers International Inc. 10.25% 2005 /2/                         4,000        4,300          .06
Freeport-McMoRan Copper & Gold:
 7.50% 2006                                                         35,000       34,749          .71
 7.20% 2026                                                         18,000       17,771
Millennium America Inc. 7.00% 2006                                  10,000        9,708          .13
Printpack Inc.:
 Series B, 9.875% 2004                                               2,000        2,080          .07
 10.625% 2006                                                        3,250        3,413
Sterling Chemicals, Inc.:
 11.75% 2006                                                         2,750        2,970          .09
 0%/13.50% 2008 /1/                                                  5,000        3,488
Texas Petrochemicals Corp. 11.125% 2006                              8,500        9,180          .12
                                                                             ----------  ----------
                                                                                 95,184         1.28
                                                                             ----------  ----------
Multi-Industry
New Tenneco Inc. 8.075% 2002                                         3,000        3,148          .04
Perez Companc SA 9.00% 2004                                          2,000        2,083          .03
Reliance Industries Ltd.: /2/
 8.25% 2027                                                         10,000       10,147          .30
 10.25% 2097                                                        10,750       11,686
Wharf International Finance Ltd. Series A, 7.625% 2007 /2/          10,000        9,955          .14
                                                                             ----------  ----------
                                                                                 37,019          .51
                                                                             ----------  ----------
Other
Allied Waste North America, Inc. 10.25% 2006 /2/                     7,500        7,987          .11
EarthWatch Inc. Units, 12.50% 2001 /3/ /4/                          12,000       12,000          .16
Fage Dairy Industry SA 9.00% 2007 /2/                               10,000        9,550          .13
Verio Inc. Units, 13.50% 2004 /2/ /3/                               11,000       11,110          .15
                                                                             ----------  ----------
                                                                                 40,647          .55
                                                                             ----------  ----------
 
Protection Services
Borg-Warner Security Corp. 9.625% 2007 /2/                           2,250        2,261          .03
Protection One Alarm Monitoring, Inc. Units, 0%/13.625%
 2005 /1/ /2/ /3/                                                   17,000       18,047          .24
                                                                             ----------  ----------
                                                                                 20,308          .27
                                                                             ----------  ----------
Telecommunications
Brooks Fiber Properties, Inc.:
 0%/10.875% 2006 /1/                                                 3,500        2,380          .08
 10.00% 2007 /2/                                                     4,000        4,040
CCPR Services, Inc. 10.00% 2007 /2/                                 13,750       13,544          .18
CEI Citicorp Holdings 11.25% 2007 /2/                               13,750       13,958          .19
CellNet Data Systems, Inc. 0% /13.00% 2005 /1/                      49,750       32,213          .43
Cellular Communications International, Inc.:
 0% 2000                                                             1,000          775          .17
 Units, 0% 2000 /3/                                                 15,071       11,831
Cellular, Inc. 0%/11.75% 2003 /1/                                    1,000          972          .01
CenCall Communications Corp. 0%/10.125% 2004 /1/                    30,000       23,700          .32
Centennial Cellular Corp.:
 8.875% 2001                                                        19,000       18,905          .33
 10.125% 2005                                                        5,000        5,200
COLT Telecom Group PLC Units, 0/12.00% 2006 /1/ /3/                  5,250        3,373          .05
Comcast Cellular 9.50% 2007 /2/                                     24,500       24,622          .33
Comunicacion Celular SA Units, 0%/13.125% 2003 /1/ /2/ /3/          17,550       13,513          .18
Dial Call Communications, Inc. 0%/12.25% 2004 /1/                    8,000        6,360          .09
Geotek Communications, Inc. 0%/15.00% 2005 /1/                       7,750        4,660          .06
Globalstar, LP Units, 11.375% 2004 /2/ /3/                           4,500        4,511          .06
ICG Communications, Inc., ICG Holdings, Inc.: /1/
 0%/13.50% 2005                                                      2,500        1,825          .06
 0%/11.625% 2007 /2/                                                 4,500        2,700
InterCel, Inc. 11.125% 2007 /2/                                      2,250        2,264          .03
McCaw International, Ltd. Units, 0%/13.00% 2007 /1/ /2/ /3/         29,000       13,775          .19
MFS Communications Co., Inc.:
 9.375% 2004                                                        28,750       26,761          .43
 8.875% 2006                                                         6,500        5,147
MobileMedia Communications, Inc.:
 0%/10.50% 2003 /1/                                                  6,600          858          .03
 9.375% 2007                                                         7,800        1,287
Mobile Telecomm 13.50% 2002                                          7,530        8,057          .11
NEXTEL Communications, Inc.: /1/
 0%/11.50% 2003                                                     29,000       25,085          .46
 0%/9.75% 2004                                                      12,000        9,180
Nextlink Capital, Inc. 12.50% 2006                                   3,000        3,195          .04
Northern Telecom Ltd. 8.75% 2001                                     3,500        3,745          .05
Omnipoint Corp.:
 Units, 12.00% 2000 /3/ /4/                                         12,500       15,878          .51
 11.625% 2006                                                       23,700       22,397
Orion Network Systems, Inc. Units, 11.25% 2007 /3/                  30,000       30,750          .42
PriCellular Wireless Corp.:
 0%/14.00% 2001 /1/                                                  9,000        9,540          .45
 0%/12.25% 2003 /1/                                                 17,750       16,685
 10.75% 2004                                                         6,700        6,985
PTC International Finance BV 0%/10.75% 2007 /1/ /2/                  3,200        1,920          .03
Qwest Communications International 10.875% 2007 /2/                  8,500        9,223          .13
Rogers Cantel Communications Inc. 9.375% 2008                        3,000        3,165          .04
Sprint Spectrum LP, Sprint Spectrum Finance Corp. 11.00%
2006                                                                 6,000        6,645          .09
Telecom Argentina STET - France Telecom SA 12.00% 1999               2,500        2,933          .04
Telefonica De Argentina 11.875% 2004                                 1,500        1,793          .03
Teleport Communications 9.875% 2006                                  6,500        6,923          .09
U S WEST Capital Funding, Inc. 6.95% 2037                           17,500       17,462          .24
U S WEST, Inc. 0% convertible debentures 2011                       80,000       30,600          .41
                                                                             ----------  ----------
                                                                                471,335         6.36
                                                                             ----------  ----------
Textiles & Apparel
Tultex Corp.:
 10.625% 2005                                                        2,750        3,028          .13
 9.625% 2007 /2/                                                     6,000        6,375
WestPoint Stevens Inc. 8.75% 2001                                    2,500        2,575          .03
                                                                             ----------  ----------
                                                                                 11,978          .16
                                                                             ----------  ----------
Transportation
Airplanes Pass Through Trust, pass-through certificates: /5/
 Series 1, Class B, 6.596% 2019                                      7,127        7,174         1.01
 Series 1, Class C, 8.15% 2019                                      50,000       52,000
 Series 1, Class D, 10.875% 2019                                    13,750       15,830
Alaska Airlines:
 Series A, 9.50% 2010                                                2,328        2,389          .18
 Series B, 9.50% 2010                                                2,950        3,027
 Series C, 9.50% 2010                                                2,846        2,925
 Series D, 9.50% 2012                                                4,778        4,915
American Airlines, Inc., Series 1991-C2, mortgage pass-
 through certificates, 9.73% 2014 /5/                                6,000        6,917          .09
Continental Airlines, Inc.:
 9.50% 2001                                                         11,500       12,018
 pass-through certificates: /5/
  Series 1996-C, 9.50% 2015                                          4,902        5,500
  Series 1996-A, 6.94% 2015                                          3,922        3,845
  Series 1996-B, 7.82% 2015                                         13,236       13,630          .59
  Series 1996-2B, 8.56% 2014                                         1,944        2,100
  Series 1996-2D, 11.5% 2016                                         4,430        4,961
  Series 1997-1, Class C-1, 7.42% 2008 /2/                           2,500        2,517
Delta Air Lines, Inc.:
 9.875% 2000                                                         2,000        2,155
 1990 Equipment trust certificates: /2/
  Series F, 10.79% 2014                                              1,700        2,109
  Series I, 10.00% 2014                                              5,000        5,854
  Series J, 10.00% 2014                                             10,000       11,709          .61
 pass-through certificates: /5/
  Series 1992-A2, 9.20% 2014                                        11,750       13,277
  Series 1992-B1, 9.375% 2007                                        8,830        9,653
Jet Equipment Trust: /2/ /4/
 Series 1994-A, 10.91% 2006                                          6,806        7,850
 Series 1994-A, 11.79% 2006                                          4,000        5,085
 Series 1995-A, 10.69% 2015                                         10,500       12,644          .92
 Series 1995-A, 11.44% 2014                                         10,000       12,393
 Series 1995-B, 10.91% 2014                                          5,000        5,957
 Series 1995B-A, 7.63% 2015                                         17,744       18,148
 Series 1995B-C, 9.71% 2015                                          5,500        6,288
MC-Cuernavaca Trust 9.25% 2001 /2/                                   4,363        4,101          .06
Teekay Shipping Corp. 8.32% 2008                                     6,000        6,030          .08
United Air Lines, Inc., pass-through certificates: /5/
 Series 1995-A1, 9.02% 2012                                         10,863       11,808
 Series 1995-A2, 9.56% 2018                                          8,000        9,119          .35
 Series 1996-A2, 7.87% 2019                                          5,000        4,899
USAir, Inc.:
 Series 1993-A1, 8.625% 1998                                         5,000        5,063
 1990 Equipment Trust Certificates:
  Series A, 10.28% 2001                                                754          781
  Series B, 10.28% 2001                                                754          781          .93
  Series C, 10.28% 2001                                                530          549
 9.625% 2001                                                         3,996        4,096
 10.00% 2003                                                        19,000       19,475
 pass-through trust: /5/
  Series 1989-A1, 9.33% 2006                                         4,796        4,892
  Series 1993-A2, 9.625% 2003                                        8,125        8,450
  Series 1993-A3, 10.375% 2013                                       7,250        7,830
 Class B, 7.50% 2009                                                 8,178        8,210
 Class C, 8.93% 2009                                                 7,890        8,510
                                                                             ----------  ----------
                                                                                357,464         4.82
                                                                             ----------  ----------
FINANCE
Banking & Thrifts
Banco Nacional de Mexico 11.00% convertible debentures
 2003 /2/                                                            4,425        4,724          .06
BankAmerica Capital III, BankAmerica Corp. Series 3,
 6.386% 2027 /6/                                                    22,500       22,117          .30
BTC Capital Trust I 6.344% 2026 /6/                                 17,500       17,360          .23
Central Fidelity Capital Trust I, Central Fidelity Banks,
 Inc. 6.832% 2027 /2/ /6/                                           14,500       14,839          .20
Chase Capital II, Global Floating Rate Capital
 Securities, Series B, 6.35% 2027 /6/                               15,000       14,625          .20
Chevy Chase Bank, FSB 9.25% 2008                                     2,000        2,005          .03
Daiwa America Corp. 5.951% 1997 /2/ /4/ /5/ /6/                     19,044       19,044          .26
Den Danske Bank 7.40% 2010 /2/                                       6,000        6,022          .08
First Nationwide 12.25% 2001                                         9,000        9,990          .13
First Nationwide Holdings Inc.:
 9.125% 2003                                                         6,000        6,180
 10.625% 2003                                                       12,750       13,961          .40
 12.50% 2003                                                         9,000       10,035
Imperial Capital Trust I, Imperial Bancorp 9.98% 2026 /2/            9,000        9,308          .13
Kansallis-Osake-Pankki:
 9.75% 1998                                                          5,000        5,226          .09
 10.00% 2002                                                         1,000        1,121
Midland American Capital 12.75% 2003                                12,150       13,140          .18
National Westminister Bank PLC 7.75% 2049                           10,000       10,279          .14
Ocwen Federal Bank FSB 12.00% 2005                                   6,000        6,585          .09
Skandinaviska Enskilda Banken (N.Y. City) 6.875% 2009                8,250        7,922          .11
Washington Mutual Capital I, Washington Mutual Inc.
 8.375% 2027                                                        10,000       10,162          .14
                                                                             ----------  ----------
                                                                                204,645         2.77
                                                                             ----------  ----------
Financial Services
Advanta Corp. Series D, 6.60% 2000                                   6,000        5,853          .08
Advanta National Bank 6.45% 2000                                     5,000        4,847          .06
Beneficial Corp. 12.875% 2013                                        3,800        4,234          .06
Capital One Capital I, Capital One Bank 7.409% 2027 /2/ /6/         10,000        9,608          .13
Capital One Bank:
 6.97% 2002                                                          5,000        4,930          .23
 7.15% 2006                                                         12,500       12,646
Ford Motor Credit Co. 9.50% 2000                                     7,350        7,877          .11
General Motors Acceptance Corp.:
 7.00% 2000                                                          5,000        5,049          .29
 debentures 8.10% 2024                                              15,800       16,203
Indah Kiat Finance Mauritius Ltd. 10.00% 2007 /2/                   13,750       13,750          .18
                                                                             ----------  ----------
                                                                                 84,997         1.14
                                                                             ----------  ----------
Insurance
Aetna Services, Inc. 6.97% 2036                                     12,500       12,623          .17
American Re Corp. 10.875% 2004                                      10,000       10,562          .14
Fidelity National Financial 0% 2009                                 20,000       10,300          .14
Integon Capital I, Integon Corp., Series A, 10.75% 2027 /2/          6,000        7,230          .10
Terra Nova Insurance (UK) Holdings PLC 10.75% 2005                   3,000        3,338          .04
                                                                             ----------  ----------
                                                                                 44,053          .59
                                                                             ----------  ----------
Real Estate
Beverly Finance Corp. 8.36% 2004 /2/                                10,000       10,420          .14
B.F. Saul REIT 11.625% 2002                                         19,000       20,235          .27
Corporate Property Investors: /2/
 9.00% 2002                                                          2,000        2,138          .09
 7.75% 2004                                                          4,250        4,372
ERP Operating LP:
 7.95% 2002                                                          3,750        3,874          .23
 7.57% 2026                                                         13,000       13,380
Irvine Co. 7.46% 2006 /2/ /4/                                       17,000       16,425          .22
New World China Finance Ltd. 4.0% 1999 /2/                           4,000        4,060          .05
Security Capital Industrial Trust:
 7.25% 2002                                                          1,000        1,010
 7.95% 2008                                                          1,000        1,038          .14
 7.875% 2009                                                         7,500        7,711
Security Capital Pacific Trust:
 7.15% 2010                                                          2,000        1,979          .06
 7.90% 2016                                                          2,100        2,126
Shopping Center Associates: /2/
 6.75% 2004                                                            500          506          .17
 7.625% 2005                                                        12,000       11,701
Wellsford Residential Property Trust:
 7.75% 2005                                                          1,000        1,023          .02
 7.25% 2000                                                          1,000        1,008
                                                                             ----------  ----------
                                                                                103,006         1.39
                                                                             ----------  ----------
COLLATERALIZED MORTGAGE/ASSET-BACKED OBLIGATIONS /5/
(Excluding Those Issued by Federal Agencies)
Aames Mortgage Trust:
 1996 Series D, Class A-1B, 6.34% 2012                              22,000       21,973
 1996 Series D, Class A-1C, 6.52% 2020                               9,000        8,966          .68
 1996 Series D, Class A-1E, 6.87% 2024                              19,500       19,403
AFC Home Equity Loan Trust, Series 1995-5, Class 1A4,
 6.87% 2027                                                          9,000        8,989          .12
Asset Securitization Corp.:
 Series 1996-D3, Class A-1B, 7.21% 2026                              3,000        3,049          .20
 Series 1997-D4, Class A-1A, 7.35% 2027                             11,689       11,948
Banco Nacional de Mexico 0.00% 2002 /2/                             16,598       13,290          .18
Blackrock Capital Finance LP: /2/
 Series 1996-C2, Class A, 7.641% 2026                                4,999        5,053          .08
 Series 1996-C2 Class C, 7.901% 2026                                 1,000        1,021
Capstead Securities Corp. IV, collateralized mortgage
 obligations, Series 1992-4, Class J, 19.607% 2022 /7/               8,750        9,625          .13
Chase Commercial Mortgage Securities Corp.,
 Series 1997-1, Class A1, 7.27% 2004                                10,000       10,159          .14
Chase Manhattan Bank, NA:
 Series 93-I, Class 2A5, 7.60% 2024                                 10,000        9,975          .20
 Series 96-1, Class A1, 7.60% 2005                                   4,881        5,030
Collateralized Mortgage Obligation Trust, Series 63,
 Class Z, 9.00% 2020                                                 6,466        7,044          .10
ContiMortgage Home Equity Loan Trust, Series 1996-4A,
 Class A4, 6.37% 2011                                                1,500        1,489          .02
CSFB Finance Co. Ltd., Series 1995-A, 5.00%/7.00% 2005 /6/          20,500       20,750          .28
CS First Boston Mortgage Securities Corp., mortgage
 pass-through certificates:
 Series 1995-AEW1, 6.665% 2027                                         159          159          .13
 Series 1995-MBL1, 6.425% 2030                                       9,565        9,574
DLJ Mortgage Acceptance Corp.: /2/
 Series 1996-CF2, Class A2, 7.28% 2021                               5,000        5,042          .17
 Series 1997-CF1, Class A1A, 7.40% 2006                              7,000        7,161
EquiCredit Funding Asset Backed Certificates Series
 1996-A, Class A2, 6.95% 2012                                       21,000       21,166          .29
FIRSTPLUS Home Loan Owner Trust:
 Series 1996-4, Class A3, 6.28% 2009                                 1,000          992          .14
 Series 1997-1, Class A7, 7.16% 2018                                10,000        9,913
GCC Home Equity Trust, asset-backed certificates, Series
 1990-1, 10.00% 2005                                                 2,074        2,106          .03
G E Capital Mortgage Services:
 Series 1994-9, Class A9, 6.50% 2024                                 4,201        3,643          .25
 Series 1994-15, Class A10, 6.00% 2009                              16,376       14,882
GMAC Commercial Mortgage Securities Inc., Series 1996-C1,
 Class A2A, 6.79% 2028                                                 988          982          .01
Green Tree Financial Corp., pass-through certificates:
 Series 1993-2, Class B, 8.00% 2018                                  2,250        2,303
 Series 1994-A, Class NIM, 6.90% 2004                                5,895        5,881
 Series 1995-A, Class NIM, 7.25% 2005                               20,256       20,288
 Series 1995-9, Class A-5, 6.80% 2027                                8,000        7,952          .63
 Series 1996-10, Class A-6, 7.30% 2028                               8,500        8,306
 Series 1997-A, Class HI-M1, 7.47% 2023                              1,000        1,009
 Series 1997-1, Class A5, 6.86% 2028                                 1,500        1,482
IMC Home Equity Loan Trust:
 Series 1996-2, Class A2, 6.78% 2011                                12,000       12,007
 Series 1996-4, Class A1, 6.59% 2011                                 5,803        5,800          .50
 Series 1996-4, Class A1, 6.81 2011                                 18,972       19,002
J.P. Morgan & Co. Inc., Series A, 4.928% 2012 /8/                   10,000        9,600          .13
J.P. Morgan Commercial Mortgage Finance Corp., pass-
 through certificates: /6/
 Series 1995-C1, Class A-2, 7.399% 2010                              1,000        1,016
 Series 1996-C3, Class A-1, 7.33% 2028                                 970          984          .04
 Series 1997-C4, Class A-1, 6.939% 2028                              1,439        1,446
Merrill Lynch Mortgage Investors, Inc.:
 Series 1995-C2, Class D, 8.266%  2021 /6/                             838          856
 Series 1995-C3, Class A1, 6.789% 2025 /6/                           2,766        2,766          .24
 Series 1996-C2, Class A1, 6.69% 2028                               14,154       14,121
Money Store Trust:
 Series 1996-C, Class A-3, 7.07% 2017                                3,000        3,026
 Series 1996-D, Class A-12, 6.37% 2011                              20,000       19,844
 Series 1996-D, Class A-14, 6.985% 2016                              4,000        3,965          .59
 Series 1997-1, Class A-2, 6.81% 2011                               17,000       17,056
Morgan Stanley Capital Inc. Series 1995-GA1, Class A-1,
 7.00% 2002 /2/                                                     12,525       12,624          .18
Morgan Stanley Capital I Inc.:
 Series 1996-WF1, Class A-1, 6.58% 2028 /2/ /6/                     13,850       13,844
 Series 1996-WF1, Class D,  6.58% 2028 /6/                           2,000        1,901          .35
 Series 1997-WF1, Class A-1, 6.83% 2029 /2/                         10,000       10,019
Prudential-Bache CMO Trust, Series 3, Class F, 9.44%
2018                                                                 1,000        1,053          .01
Prudential Home Mortgage Securities Co., Inc.:
 Series 1993-7, Class A-4, 8.00% 2003                                9,323        9,373
 Series 1993-7, Class A-5, 8.00% 2003                                  456          454
 Series 1993-48, Class A-6, 6.25% 2008                               4,466        4,156          .39
 Series 1992-37, Class A-6, 7.00% 2022                                 970          968
 Series 1993-34, Class A-1, 7.00% 2023                              13,096       13,174
Residential Funding Mortgage Securities I, Inc., Series
 1992-S6, Class A-10, 12.858% 2022 /7/                               9,170        9,170          .12
Resolution Trust Corp.:
 Series 1991-M5, Class B, 9.00% 2017                                 2,324        2,369
 Series 1992-6, Class A-2B, 8.40% 2024                               4,774        4,776
 Series 1993-C1, Class D, 9.45% 2024                                 9,352        9,477
 Series 1993-C1, Class E, 9.50% 2024                                   407          412          .31
 Series 1993-C2, Class C, 8.00% 2025                                 3,000        3,031
 Series 1993-C2, Class D, 8.50% 2025                                 3,290        3,341
 Series 1993-C2, Class E, 8.50% 2025                                   146          146
Standard Credit Card Master Trust I, credit card
 participation certificates, Series 1994-2A, 7.25% 2008              5,000        5,066          .07
Standard Credit Card Trust, credit card participation
 certificates, Series 1991-3A, 8.875% 1999                           5,500        5,646          .08
Structured Asset Notes Transaction, Ltd.
 Series 1996-A, Class A1, 7.156% 2003 /2/                            8,137        8,120          .11
Structured Asset Securities Corp., pass-through
 certificates:
 Series 1995-C1, Class A1A, 7.375% 2024                                436          438
 Series 1996-CFL, Class D, 7.034% 2028                               2,950        2,927          .06
 Series 1996-CFL, Class E, 7.034% 2028                               1,569        1,589
UCFC Acceptance Corp. pass-through Certificates:
 Series 1995-B1, Class A3, 6.75% 2017                                2,000        2,005
 Series 1996-B1, Class A3, 7.30% 2013                                  500          506
 Series 1996-C1, Class A4, 7.748% 2020                               9,500        9,678          .34
 Series 1996-D, Class A4, 6.776% 2016                                2,400        2,395
 Series 1996-B1, Class A2, 7.075% 2010                              10,000       10,076
                                                                             ----------  ----------
                                                                                540,828         7.30
                                                                             ----------  ----------
GOVERNMENTAL
Governments (Excluding U.S. Government)
Argentina (Republic of):
 11.00% 2006                                                         4,450        4,956
 11.75% 2007 /2/                                                    16,000       17,819
 11.375% 2017                                                        6,500        7,238          .51
 Eurobond 6.8125% 2005 /6/                                           7,814        7,348
Australia Commonwealth 7.00% 2000                                 A$12,000        9,317          .13
Australian Government:
 7.00% 1998                                                         12,000        9,234          .25
 9.50% 2003                                                         11,000        9,457
Brazil (Federal Republic of):
 Debt Conversion Bond, Series L, 6.937% 2012 /6/                      $500          413          .01
 Bearer, 8.00 2014                                                     280          225
British Columbia Hydro & Power Authority 12.50% 2013                 4,000        4,426          .06
Bundesrepublik 7.125% 2002                                        DM65,000       41,358          .56
Canadian Government:
 9.75% 2001                                                       C$10,000        8,379
 10.50% 2001                                                         5,000        4,213
 9.00% 2004                                                         36,000       30,469
 8.75% 2005                                                         15,000       12,630         1.52
 4.618% 2021 /8/                                                    19,000       14,883
 4.421% 2026 /8/                                                    57,000       42,105
Deutschland Republic 8.00% 2002                                   DM34,050       22,411          .30
Ecuador(Republic of)Past Due Interest Bonds: /6/
 Bearer:
  6.50% 2015                                                        $1,211          779          .01
  6.50% 2025                                                           250          178
 Registered, 6.50% 2015                                                269          173
Export-Import Bank of Japan 2.875% 2005                         Yen800,000        7,238          .10
Hydro-Quebec, Series HKF, 9.375% 2030                               $3,250        3,885          .05
International Bank for Reconstruction and Development:
 4.50% 2003                                                      1,800,000       17,849          .35
 4.75% 2004                                                        800,000        8,177
Irish Government IEP
 8.00% 2000                                                IR Pounds10,000       16,061
 6.25% 2004                                                          2,750        4,159          .65
 8.00% 2006                                                         16,700       27,733
Italian Government National:
 9.50% 2001                                                   Lr21,400,000       13,889          .34
 10.50% 2005                                                    15,000,000       10,813
Italy (Republic of) 6.875% 2023                                      1,000          938          .01
New Zealand Government:
 8.00% 2004                                                       NZ13,500        9,685          .37
 4.50% 2016 /8/                                                     26,500       17,566
Ontario Hydro (Province of Ontario) 3.165%  1999 /6/               C$3,000        2,174          .03
Ontario (Province of) 7.75% 2002                                    $3,500        3,657          .05
Panama (Republic of): /2/ /6/
 Interest Reduction Bond, 3.50% 2014                                 6,500        5,029          .09
 Past Due Interest Bond, 6.563% 2016                                 1,521        1,339
Poland (Republic of)Past Due Interest Bond: /6/
 Bearer, 3.75% 2014                                                  4,000        3,426          .13
 Registered, 3.75% 2014                                              7,000        5,996
Quebec (Province of):
 8.625%  2005                                                        6,750        7,352          .19
 13.25%  2014                                                        5,500        6,452
South Africa (Republic of) 13.00% 2010                           ZAR96,000       19,405          .26
Spain (Kingdom of):
 8.40% 2001                                                   Pta2,225,000       16,677          .40
 8.00% 2004                                                      1,750,000       13,094
Swedish Government 10.250% 2003                                  SKr58,000        9,053          .12
Treuhandanstalt 7.125% 2003                                       DM33,000       20,984          .28
United Kingdom 8.50% 2005                                     Pounds18,500       33,495          .45
United Mexican States Government Eurobonds:
 Global, 11.375% 2016                                               $2,015        2,265
 Global, 7.875% 2001 /2/ /6/                                        14,000       14,024
 Global, 11.50% 2026                                                   825          942
 Series A, 6.25% 2019                                                1,000          774          .26
 Series A, 6.398% 2019 /5/ /6/                                       1,250        1,165
 Series B, 6.835% 2019 /5/ /6/                                         500          466
Venezuela (Republic of): /6/
 6.75% 2007                                                        $11,250       10,434
 Front Loaded Interest Reduction Bond
  Series A 6.75% 2007                                                  952          886          .15
  Series B 6.75% 2007                                                  238          221
                                                                             ----------  ----------
                                                                                565,314         7.63
                                                                             ----------  ----------
Federal Agency Obligations -
 Mortgage Pass-Throughs /5/
Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corp.:
 6.65% 2027                                                          3,000        2,761
 8.00% 2003-2010                                                     4,814        4,895
 8.25% 2007                                                          2,536        2,608
 8.50% 2002-2020                                                    30,815       31,994
 8.75% 2008                                                          3,304        3,441
 9.00% 2021                                                            966        1,033
 10.00% 2011-2019                                                      361          388
 10.50% 2020                                                         2,573        2,845          .75
 10.75% 2010                                                           103          113
 11.50% 2000                                                            35           38
 12.00% 2010-2015                                                    1,392        1,571
 12.50% 2009-2019                                                    1,665        1,935
 12.75% 2015-2019                                                      649          746
 13.00% 2014                                                            74           87
 13.50% 2018                                                            13           15
 13.75% 2014                                                            20           23
Federal National Mortgage Assn.:
 6.084% 2033 /5/                                                    35,355       34,946
 6.50% 2021-2025                                                    16,348       15,476
 7.00% 2009-2010                                                     4,220        4,226
 7.50% 2009-2024                                                    12,182       12,320
 7.50% 2009                                                          3,757        3,811
 8.00% 2023                                                          3,066        3,163
 8.50% 2009-2024                                                    13,013       13,562
 9.00% 2018-2025                                                     6,227        6,583         1.72
 9.50% 2009-2025                                                     5,938        6,391
 10.00% 2018-2025                                                   16,856       18,346
 10.50% 2012                                                         4,544        4,980
 11.00% 2015-2020                                                    2,922        3,234
 11.25% 2014                                                            51           57
 11.50% 2010-2014                                                      278          311
 12.00% 2015-2019                                                       83           94
 12.50% 2015                                                           287          334
 13.00% 2014                                                            54           64
 15.00% 2013                                                            65           77
Government National Mortgage Assn.:
 5.00% 2025-2026 /6/                                                16,372       16,233
 5.50% 2023-2024                                                   123,467      125,969
 6.00% 2024 /6/                                                     52,804       54,170
 6.125% 2022 /6/                                                     7,700        7,913
 6.50% 2008-2026                                                    41,837       40,820
 6.875% 2023 /6/                                                    14,388       14,734
 7.00% 2008-2027 /6/                                                74,158       73,718
 7.125% 2023-2024 /6/                                               21,073       21,178
 7.50% 2007-2024                                                    74,169       74,884
 8.00% 2017-2025                                                    18,514       19,127         7.35
 8.50% 2020-2026                                                    37,731       39,485
 9.00% 2016-2022                                                    20,404       21,887
 9.50% 2009-2025                                                    18,835       20,375
 10.00% 2017-2019                                                   10,245       11,293
 10.50% 2015-2019                                                      591          658
 11.00% 2013-2016                                                    1,366        1,549
 11.50% 2015                                                            61           70
 12.00% 2014                                                           135          157
 12.50% 2010-2015                                                      821          963
 13.25% 2014                                                            82           94
                                                                             ----------  ----------
                                                                                727,745         9.82
                                                                             ----------  ----------
Federal Agency Obligation - Other
Federal Home Loan Bank Bonds: /5/
 6.16% 2004                                                         24,000       22,984
 6.27% 2004                                                          5,000        4,821
 6.38% 2003                                                          3,000        2,914         1.12
 6.41% 2003                                                         18,580       18,034
 7.00% 2005                                                         35,000       34,256
Federal Home Loan Mortgage Notes:
 5.74% 2003                                                          6,500        6,160
 5.78% 2003                                                         14,520       13,771
 6.185% 2003                                                        19,845       19,116
 6.19% 2004                                                         11,000       10,527
 6.24% 2003                                                          2,900        2,798
 6.27% 2004                                                          3,500        3,376
 6.28% 2003                                                          3,000        2,908         1.54
 6.30% 2003                                                          2,000        1,945
 6.375% 2003                                                         5,820        5,674
 6.39% 2003                                                         10,330       10,049
 6.50% 2003                                                          6,200        6,059
 7.00% 2002                                                         25,000       24,754
 7.29% 2004                                                          6,000        5,957
Federal National Mortgage Association Notes:
 7.70% 2004                                                         12,500       12,678
 medium-term notes:
  5.54% 1997                                                        30,000       30,000         1.14
  6.14% 2004                                                        13,000       12,419
  7.43% 2005                                                        30,000       29,747
FNSM Callable Principal STRIPS 0%/8.25% 2022 /1/                     4,500        4,020          .05
                                                                             ----------  ----------
                                                                                284,967         3.85
                                                                             ----------  ----------
Collateralized Mortgage Obligations - Federal Agencies /5/
Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corp.:
 Series 178, Class Z, 9.25% 2021                                     4,189        4,419
 Series 1716, Class A, 6.50% 2009                                    4,750        4,591
 Series 1657, Class SA, 6.766% 2023 /7/                              7,520        4,686          .24
 Series 1673, Class SA, 5.078% 2024 /7/                              7,879        4,356
Federal National Mortgage Assn.:
 Series 90-93, Class G, 5.50% 2020                                   1,561        1,461
 Series 91-146, Class Z, 8.00% 2006                                  7,070        7,203          .17
 Series 93-247, Class Z, 7.00% 2023                                  3,809        3,562
                                                                             ----------  ----------
                                                                                 30,278          .41
                                                                             ----------  ----------
 
U.S. Treasury Obligations
9.25% August 1998                                                  117,200      121,393         1.64
8.875% November 1998                                                 1,000        1,038          .01
8.875% February 1999                                                23,500       24,521          .33
9.125% May 1999                                                     16,250       17,111          .23
6.875% July 1999                                                    94,000       95,366         1.29
5.875% November 1999                                                30,000       29,808          .40
8.875% May 2000                                                     30,000       32,077          .43
8.750% August 2000                                                  28,000       29,947          .40
8.50% November 2000                                                 30,000       31,973          .43
7.75% February 2001                                                 26,000       27,190          .37
8.00% May 2001                                                      17,500       18,484          .25
13.125% May 2001                                                    21,500       26,438          .36
6.25% October 2001                                                   8,000        7,962          .11
14.25% February 2002                                                 7,000        9,172          .12
11.625% November 2002                                               92,000      113,462         1.53
10.750% May 2003                                                    12,500       15,096          .20
11.875% November 2003                                               10,000       12,786          .17
7.25% May 2004                                                     164,000      170,944         2.31
7.25% August 2004                                                    3,000        3,128          .04
7.875% November 2004                                                 6,000        6,475          .09
11.625% November 2004                                              109,500      141,870         1.92
6.50% May 2005                                                      15,000       14,972          .20
3.404% January 2007 /8/                                             33,000       32,596          .44
10.375% November 2009                                               12,500       15,191          .21
10.00% May 2010                                                      7,500        9,023          .12
10.375% November 2012                                               15,000       19,040          .26
12.00% August 2013                                                  10,000       14,077          .19
8.875% August 2017                                                 176,000      214,363         2.89
8.125% May 2021                                                     29,000       33,196          .45
                                                                             ----------  ----------
                                                                              1,288,699        17.39
                                                                             ----------  ----------
FLOATING RATE EURODOLLAR NOTES (UNDATED) /6/
Allied Irish Banks Ltd. 6.438%                                       7,000        6,576          .09
Bank of Nova Scotia 6.00%                                           10,000        8,900          .12
Bergen Bank 6.00%                                                    5,000        4,429          .06
Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce 6.125%                           25,000       22,219          .30
Christiana Bank Og Kreditkasse 6.063%                                6,000        5,430          .07
Hongkong and Shanghai Banking Corp. 6.25%                           10,000        9,037          .12
Lloyds Bank (#2) 6.062%                                              8,000        7,329          .10
Midland Bank 5.813%                                                  5,000        4,516          .06
National Bank of Canada 3.031%                                       5,000        4,125          .06
Standard Chartered Bank:
 5.775%                                                              5,000        4,363          .23
 5.813%                                                             15,000       13,025
                                                                             ----------  ----------
                                                                                 89,949         1.21
                                                                             ----------  ----------
 
 
EQUITY-TYPE SECURITIES & MISCELLANEOUS
Equity-Type Securities
IntelCom Group Inc., warrants expire 8/8/05 /9/                     47,850          263          .00
Nextel Corp., warrants /9/                                          38,750            0          .00
Swire Pacific Capital Ltd. 8.84% /2/                               780,000       20,085          .27
Swire Pacific Offshore Financing Ltd. 9.33% /2/                    180,000        4,928          .07
                                                                             ----------  ----------
                                                                                 25,276          .34
                                                                             ----------  ----------
Miscellaneous
Investment securities in the initial period of acquisition                       52,446          .71
                                                                             ----------  ----------
TOTAL BONDS, NOTES AND EQUITY-TYPE
 SECURITIES (cost: $6,316,369,000)                                            6,425,966        86.74
                                                                             ----------  ----------
 
 
SHORT-TERM SECURITIES
Commercial Paper
American Express Credit Corp.
 5.58% due 07/02/97                                                 13,500       13,496
 5.55% due 07/07/97                                                 25,000       24,973         1.04
 5.57%-5.58% due 08/06/97                                           38,600       38,381
Ameritech Corp.
 5.58% due 07/08/97                                                 32,000       31,961          .97
 5.55% due 08/26/97                                                 40,000       39,657
BellSouth Telecommunications Inc.
 5.57% due 07/03/97                                                 10,000        9,995
 5.52% due 07/24/97                                                 10,000        9,964          .60
 5.52% due 07/25/97                                                 25,000       24,905
Beneficial Corp.
 5.64% due 07/10/97                                                 29,500       29,454          .73
 5.60% due 08/28/97                                                 24,500       24,277
Commercial Credit Co.
 5.56%-5.63% due 07/09/97                                           30,700       30,657          .74
 5.60% due 09/03/97                                                 25,000       24,748
E.I. du Pont de Nemours and Co.
 5.62% due 07/21/97                                                 34,000       33,890          .76
 5.67% due 08/04/97                                                 22,250       22,130
General Electric Capital Corp.
 6.15% due 07/01/97                                                 50,600       50,591          .68
IBM Credit Corp.
 5.52% due 07/07/97                                                 20,000       19,979
 5.59% due 07/22/97                                                 21,000       20,928         1.09
 5.63% due 07/28/97                                                 25,000       24,892
 5.60% due 08/27/97                                                 15,000       14,866
International Lease Finance Corp.
 5.59% due 08/04/97                                                 15,000       14,919
 5.68% due 08/15/97                                                 25,000       24,822          .87
 5.69% due 08/18/97                                                 25,000       24,811
Lucent Technologies Inc.
 5.63% due 07/29/97                                                 22,600       22,499
 5.55% due 08/04/97                                                 24,250       24,123          .83
 5.55% due 08/19/97                                                 15,000       14,885
Monsanto Co.
 5.65% due 07/14/97                                                 20,000       19,956
 5.56% due 08/06/97                                                 10,000        9,945          .60
 5.65% due 08/25/97                                                 15,000       14,871
Motorola Credit Corp.
 5.57% due 07/11/97                                                 20,600       20,565          .62
 5.53% due 07/25/97                                                 25,000       24,913
National Rural Utilities Cooperative
Finance Corp.
 5.61% due 07/01/97                                                  8,000        7,999
 5.65% due 07/30/97                                                 20,000       19,907          .57
 5.60% due 09/03/97                                                 14,250       14,107
Safeco Credit Co. Inc.
 5.62% due 07/17/97                                                 21,000       20,945
 5.58% due 08/08/97                                                  9,000        8,946          .72
 5.65% due 08/26/97                                                 23,760       23,551
Warner-Lambert Co.
 5.57% due 07/08/97                                                 25,000       24,969          .67
 5.56% due 08/21/97                                                 25,000       24,799
Xerox Corp.
 5.58% 07-23-97                                                     20,000       19,929
 5.58% 07-24-97                                                     20,000       19,926          .95
 5.53% 07-25-97                                                      5,500        5,479
 5.59% 08-05-97                                                     25,200       25,060
                                                                             ----------  ----------
                                                                                921,670        12.44
                                                                             ----------  ----------
 
TOTAL SHORT-TERM SECURITIES                                                     921,670        12.44
 (Cost $921,681,000)
                                                                             ----------  ----------
TOTAL INVESTMENT SECURITIES                                                   7,347,636        99.18
 (cost $7,238,050,000)
 
Excess of cash and receivables over
 payables                                                                        60,577          .82
                                                                             ----------  ----------
NET ASSETS                                                                    7,408,213     100.00%
                                                                            ===========  ==========
 
 
 
 
 
 
/1/  Step bond; coupon rate will increase at a
later date.
/2/  Purchased in a private placement transaction;
resale to the public may require registration.
/3/  Purchased as a unit; issue was separated
but reattached for reporting purposes.
/4/ Valued under procedures established by
the Board of Directors.
/5/  Pass-through security backed by a pool
of mortgages or other loans on which
principal payments are periodically made.
Therefore, the effective maturity is
shorter than the stated maturity.
 
/6/ Coupon rate may change periodically.
 
/7/  Inverse floater, which is a floating
rate note whose interest rate moves in the
 opposite direction of prevailing interest rates.
/8/  Index-linked bond, which is a floating
rate bond whose principal amount moves with
a government retail price index.
 
/9/  Non-income-producing security.
 
 
 
 
 
 
See Notes to Financial Statements
</TABLE>
 
<TABLE>
The Bond Fund of America
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
STATEMENT OF ASSETS AND LIABILITIES                           (Unaudited)
June 30, 1997                                   (dollars in    thousands)
<S>                                         <C>             <C>
Assets:
Investment securities at market
 (cost: $7,238,050)                                            $7,347,636
Cash                                                               16,148
Prepaid expense ....................
Receivables for--
 Sales of investments                               $29,316
 Forward currency contracts                           3,653
 Sales of Fund's shares                              17,863
 Dividends and accrued interest                     102,282       153,114
                                                 ----------    ----------
                                                                7,516,898
Liabilities:
Payables for--
 Purchases of investments                            86,324
 Repurchases of fund's shares                        11,604
                                                          0
 Dividends on Fund's shares                           7,378
 Management services                                  2,018
 Accrued expenses                                     1,361       108,685
                                                      2,057      $110,742
                                                 ----------    ----------
Net Assets at July 30, 1997--
 Equivalent to $13.81 per share on
 536,564,568 shares of $1 par value
 capital stock outstanding (authorized
 capital stock - 1,000,000,000 shares)                         $7,408,213
                                                              ===========
STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS
for the six months ended June 30, 1997          (dollars in    thousands)
Investment Income:
Income:
 Interest                                          $275,783
 Dividends from investment in stocks                    280      $276,063
 
Expenses:
 Management services fee                            $11,738
 Distribution expenses                                8,841
 Transfer agent fee                                   2,330
 Reports to shareholders                                281
 Registration statement and prospectus                  395
 Postage, stationery and supplies                       601
 Directors' fees                                         39
 Auditing and legal fees                                 55
 Custodian fee                                          171
 Taxes other than federal income tax                     87
 Other expenses                                          31        24,569
                                                 ----------    ----------
Net investment income                                             251,494
                                                              ===========
Realized Gain and Unrealized
 Appreciation on Investments:
Net realized gain                                                  29,500
Net unrealized appreciation
 (depreciation) on:
 Investments                                         (2,637)
 Open forward currency contracts                      4,380
                                                 ----------
  Net unrealized appreciation                                       1,743
                                                               ----------
 Net realized gain and
  unrealized appreciation
  on investments                                                   31,243
                                                               ----------
Net Increase in Net Assets Resulting                             $282,737
 from Operations                                               ==========
 
 
 
 
STATEMENT OF CHANGES IN NET ASSETS              (dollars in    thousands)
 
                                                 Six months    Year ended
                                                      ended  December 31,
                                             June 30, 1997*           1996
 
Operations:
Net investment income                              $251,494      $491,209
Net realized gain (loss)on investments               29,500        (7,778)
Net unrealized appreciation
 (depreciation) on investments                        1,743       (45,326)
                                                 ----------    ----------
 Net increase in net assets
  resulting from operations                         282,737       438,105
                                                 ----------    ----------
Dividends and Distributions Paid to
 Shareholders:
 Dividends from net
  investment income                                (253,093)     (488,959)
                                                 ----------    ----------
Capital Share Transactions:
Proceeds from shares sold:
 72,530,489 and 130,706,510
 shares, respectively                               993,757     1,780,596
Proceeds from shares issued in
 reinvestment of net investment
 income dividends and distributions
 of net realized gain on investments:
 13,309,764 and 26,267,382 shares,
 respectively                                       182,352       357,426
Cost of shares repurchased:
 58,400,804 and 101,063,959
 shares, respectively                              (799,929)   (1,374,955)
                                                 ----------    ----------
 Net increase in net assets
 resulting from capital share
 transactions                                       376,180       763,067
                                                 ----------    ----------
Total Increase in Net Assets                        405,824       712,213
 
Net Assets:
Beginning of period                               7,002,389     6,290,176
                                                 ----------    ----------
End of period (including
 undistributed net investment
 income: $15,355 and $16,954
 respectively)                                   $7,408,213    $7,002,389
                                                ===========   ===========
 
 
*Unaudited
See Notes to Financial Statements
</TABLE>
 
                                                                               
                                                                  (Unaudited)
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
 
1. The Bond Fund of America, Inc. (the "fund") is registered under the
Investment Company Act of 1940 as an open-end, diversified management
investment company. The fund seeks as high a level of current income as is
consistent with preservation of capital through a diversified portfolio of
bonds and other fixed-income obligations. The following paragraphs summarize
the significant accounting policies consistently followed by the fund in the
preparation of its financial statements:
 
 Stocks and convertible debentures traded on a national securities exchange (or
reported on the NASDAQ national market) and securities traded in the
over-the-counter market are stated at the last reported sales price on the day
of valuation; other securities, and securities for which no sale was reported
on that date, are stated at the last quoted bid price.
 
 Bonds and notes are valued at prices obtained from a bond-pricing service
provided by a major dealer in bonds, when such prices are available.  However,
in circumstances where the investment adviser deems it appropriate to do so,
such securities will be valued at the mean of their representative quoted bid
and asked prices or, if such prices are not available, at prices for securities
of comparable maturity, quality and type. The value of each security
denominated in a currency other than U.S. dollars will be translated into U.S.
dollars at the prevailing market rate provided by a pricing service in
accordance with procedures established by the fund's officers. Short-term
securities with more than 60 days remaining to maturity, including forward
currency contracts, are valued at the mean of their representative quoted bid
and asked prices.  Where pricing service or market quotations are not readily
available, securities will be valued at fair value by the Board of Directors or
a committee thereof.  Short-term securities with 60 days or less remaining to
maturity are valued at amortized cost, which approximates market value.
 
 As is customary in the mutual fund industry, securities transactions are
accounted for on the date the securities are purchased or sold. In the event
the fund purchases securities on a delayed-delivery or "when-issued" basis, it
will segregate with its custodian liquid assets in an amount sufficient to meet
its payment obligations in these transactions. Realized gains and losses from
securities transactions are reported on an identified cost basis. Interest
income is reported on the accrual basis. Discounts and premiums on securities
purchased are amortized over the life of the respective securities. Dividends
to shareholders are declared daily after determination of the fund's net asset
value and paid to shareholders monthly.
 
  Investment securities and other assets and liabilities, including forward
currency contracts, denominated in non-U.S. currencies are recorded in the
financial statements after translation into U.S. dollars utilizing rates of
exchange on the last business day of the year. The Fund records realized gains
or losses at the time the forward contract is offset by entry into a closing
transaction or extinguished by delivery of the currency.  Purchases and sales
of investment securities and income are calculated using the prevailing
exchange rate.  The effects of changes in foreign currency exchange rates on
investment securities are included with the net realized and unrealized gain or
loss on investment securities.
 
  Pursuant to the custodian agreement, the fund receives credit against its
custodian fee for imputed interest on certain balances with the custodian bank.
The custodian fee of $171,000 includes $95,000 that was paid by these credits
rather than in cash.
 
2.  It is the fund's policy to continue to comply with the requirements of the
Internal Revenue Code applicable to regulated investment companies and to
distribute all of its net taxable income, including any net realized gain on
investments, to its shareholders. Therefore, no federal income tax provision is
required. 
 
  As of June 30, 1997, net unrealized appreciation on investments, excluding
forward currency contracts, for book and federal income tax purposes aggregated
$109,585,000, of which $196,911,000 related to appreciated securities and
$87,326,000 related to depreciated securities. During the period ended June 30,
1997, the fund realized, on a tax basis, a net capital gain of $32,531,000 on
securities transactions. Net losses related to non-U.S. currency transactions
of $3,031,000 were treated as ordinary income for tax purposes.  The fund has
available at June 30, 1997 a net capital loss carryforward totaling $50,492,000
which may be used to offset capital gains realized during subsequent years
through 2003 and thereby relieve the fund and its shareholders of any federal
income tax liability with respect to the capital gains that are so offset. It
is the intention of the fund not to make distributions from capital gains while
there is a capital loss carryforward. The cost of portfolio securities,
excluding foreign currency contracts, for book and federal income tax purposes
was $7,238,050,000 at June 30, 1997.
 
3.  The fee of $11,738,0000 for management services was paid pursuant to an
agreement with Capital Research and Management Company (CRMC), with which
certain officers and Directors of the fund are affiliated. The Investment
Advisory and Service Agreement provides for monthly fees, accrued daily, based
on an annual rate of 0.30% of the first $60 million of average net assets;
0.21% of such assets in excess of $60 million but not exceeding $1 billion;
0.18% of such assets in excess of $1 billion but not exceeding $3 billion;
0.16% of such assets in excess of $3 billion but not exceeding $6 billion; .15%
of average net assets in excess of $6 billion; plus 3.00% on the first $450,000
of the fund's monthly gross investment income; 2.25% of such income in excess
of $450,000 but not exceeding $8,333,333; and 2.00% of such income in excess of
$8,333,333.   
 
  Pursuant to a Plan of Distribution, the fund may expend up to 0.25% of its
average net assets annually for any activities primarily intended to result in
sales of fund shares, provided the categories of expenses for which
reimbursement is made are approved by the fund's Board of Directors. Fund
expenses under the Plan include payments to dealers to compensate them for
their selling and servicing efforts. During the six months ended June 30, 1997,
distribution expenses under the Plan were $8,841,000. As of June 30, 1997,
accrued and unpaid distribution expenses were $1,132,000.
 
  American Funds Service Company (AFS), the transfer agent for the fund, was
paid a fee of $2,830,000. American Funds Distributors, Inc. (AFD), the
principal underwriter of the fund's shares, received $2,497,000 (after
allowances to dealers) as its portion of the sales charges paid by purchasers
of the fund's shares. Such sales charges are not an expense of the fund and,
hence, are not reflected in the accompanying statement of operations.
 
  Directors who are unaffiliated with CRMC may elect to defer part or all of
the fees earned for services as members of the Board. Amounts deferred are not
funded and are general unsecured liabilities of the fund. As of June 30, 1997,
aggregate amounts deferred and earnings thereon were $104,000.
 
  CRMC is owned by The Capital Group Companies, Inc. AFS and AFD are both
wholly owned subsidiaries of CRMC. Certain Directors and officers of the fund
are or may be considered to be affiliated with CRMC, AFS and AFD. No such
persons received any remuneration directly from the fund.
 
4.  As of June 30, 1997, accumulated net realized loss on investments was
$17,960,000 and paid-in capital was $6,770,615,000.
 
  The fund made purchases and sales of investment securities, excluding
short-term securities, of $1,991,606,000 and $1,716,518,000, respectively,
during the period ended June 30, 1997.
 
  The fund purchases and sells forward currency contracts in anticipation of,
or to protect itself against, fluctuations in exchange rates. The contracts are
recorded in the statement of assets and liabilities at their net unrealized
value; the fund's maximum potential liability in these contracts is equal to
the full contract amounts. Risks may arise upon entering these contracts from
the potential inability of counterparties to meet the terms of their contracts
and from the possible movements in foreign exchange rates and securities values
underlying these instruments.  At June 30, 1997 the fund had an outstanding
forward currency contract to sell non-U.S. currency as follows:
 
<TABLE>
 
                                                                  Contract         Amount  U.S. Valuations      at 6/30/97
                                                                 ---------      ---------        ---------       ---------
<S>                                              <C>       <C>             <C>            <C>
                                                                                                                Unrealized
                                                                                                              Appreciation
Non-U.S. Currency Sales Contracts                                 Non-U.S.           U.S.           Amount  (Depreciation)
 
Deutsche Marks expiring 7/8/97 to 9/18/97               DM     101,823,000    $61,955,000      $58,521,000      $3,434,000
Great Britain Pounds expiring 8/12/97               Pounds       5,513,000      8,925,000        9,172,000              (24
Irish Pounds expiring 8/27/97                    IR Pounds      11,799,000     17,800,000       17,864,000                (
Japanese Yen expiring 8/13/97 to 9/22/97               Yen   3,577,561,000     31,939,000       31,606,000               33
Spanish Pesetas expiring 9/19/97 to 9/30/97            Pta   2,320,975,000     15,863,000       15,764,000
Swedish Kronor expiring 7/28/97                        SKr      70,000,000      9,161,000        9,063,000
                                                                                ---------        ---------       ---------
 
                                                                             $145,643,000     $141,990,000      $3,653,000
                                                                                =========        =========       =========
</TABLE>
 
<TABLE>
Per-Share Data and Ratios
 
                                                          Six Months
                                                               Ended       Year      Ended   December         31
                                                        06/30/97  /1/      1996       1995       1994       1993       1992
Net Asset Value, Beginning of Period                          $13.75     $13.88     $12.69     $14.45     $13.99     $13.70
                                                          ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ----------
<S>                                                              <C>        <C>        <C>        <C>        <C>        <C>
 Income from Investment Operations:
  Net investment income                                         0.48       1.02       1.05       1.05       1.09       1.15
  Net realized and unrealized gain(loss) on investments         0.07      (0.13)      1.18      (1.76)      0.84       0.34
                                                          ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ----------
   Total from investment operations                             0.55       0.89       2.23      (0.71)      1.93       1.49
                                                          ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ----------
 
 Less Distributions:
  Dividends from net investment income                         (0.49)     (1.02)     (1.04)     (1.05)     (1.08)     (1.16)
  Distributions from net capital gains                            --         --         --         --      (0.39)     (0.04)
                                                                  --         --         --         --         --         --
                                                          ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ----------
   Total distributions                                         (0.49)     (1.02)     (1.04)     (1.05)     (1.47)     (1.20)
                                                          ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ----------
Net asset value, End of period                                $13.81     $13.75     $13.88     $12.69     $14.45     $13.99
                                                         =========== =======================================================
 
Total Return /2/                                           3.95% /1/      6.71%     18.25%    (5.02%)     14.14%     11.34%
 
Ratios/Supplemental data:
 Net assets, end of period (in millions)                      $7,408     $7,002     $6,290     $4,941     $5,285     $3,917
 Ratio of expenses to average net assets                    .34% /1/       .71%       .74%       .69%       .71%       .73%
 Ratio of net income to average net assets                 3.52% /1/      7.47%      7.87%      7.77%      7.53%      8.36%
 Portfolio turnover rate                                  27.76% /1/     43.43%     43.80%     56.98%     44.68%     49.70%
 
/1/ Unaudited
/2/ Calculated without deducting a sales charge.  The
  maximum sales charge is 4.75% of the fund's offering
  price.
/3/ Based on the period shown and, accordingly, are not
  representative of a full year's operations.
</TABLE>
 
THE AMERICAN FUNDS GROUP (R)
SHAREHOLDER SERVICES
 
ARE YOU AWARE OF YOUR RIGHTS?
 
     Did you know you may be eligible for a sales charge discount when you buy
shares of most American Funds? The discounts begin when your investments total
$25,000 for bond funds or $50,000 for stock and stock/bond funds - and the good
news is you don't have to invest the whole amount at one time.
 
     Through your right of accumulation, when you purchase additional shares
you can add the purchase amount to the value of shares you already own - in any
of our eligible funds* - in order to qualify for a sales charge discount on the
new investment.
 
     Sales charges are reduced on a sliding scale as the value of your
investments increases. You'll find a detailed breakdown of all discounts in
your fund's prospectus, which you can obtain from your financial adviser or by
calling a Shareholder Services Representative.
 
OTHER WAYS TO REDUCE SALES CHARGES
 
     You can establish a statement of intention that allows you to invest at a
reduced sales charge immediately, based on purchases you intend to make over a
13-month period.* If you don't invest the intended amount, you will pay the
sales charge applicable to the amount invested. Or you can aggregate accounts
by adding your purchase amount to the total value of accounts you, your spouse
and your children under age 21 have with The American Funds Group. Call a
Shareholder Services Representative for details and restrictions.
 
     Whether you accumulate, aggregate or establish a statement of intention,
it all adds up - to more purchasing power for you.
 
SERVICES TO MATCH YOUR LIFESTYLE
 
Our many free services are designed to accommodate your needs quickly and
efficiently.
 
AMERICAN FUNDSLINE (R) AND FUNDSLINE ONLINE (SM) - Handle transactions using
your computer or phone 24 hours a day. Obtain current prices and investment
returns, exchange shares between funds, redeem shares, check your share
balances and confirm your most recent transaction. Request a prospectus (Web
site only), duplicate statements and order checks (phone only). All on your
timetable. Just call 800/325-3590 or visit our Web site at
www.americanfunds.com.
 
AMERICAN FUNDSLINK (SM) - Link your American Funds accounts with your bank
account. You can have fund dividends or automatic fund withdrawals deposited
directly into your bank account for fast, convenient, worry-free banking. Or
you can invest money directly from your bank account into your fund account on
either a systematic or on-demand basis.
 
OTHER AUTOMATIC TRANSACTIONS - You can reinvest dividends into the same fund or
another fund, make withdrawals, and exchange shares between funds - quarterly,
monthly or during the months you specify.
 
DIVIDEND AND CAPITAL GAIN OPTIONS - Use your dividend and capital gain
distributions to meet your changing needs. You may:
 
- - Automatically reinvest distributions back into the fund at no sales charge.
 
- - Cross-reinvest dividends into another fund at no sales charge for added
diversification. You can cross-reinvest if you have a balance of at least
$5,000 in the originating fund or meet the minimum initial investment for the
receiving fund.
 
- - Have dividends mailed or sent electronically to you or to someone else to
help meet your obligations.
 
EXCHANGE PRIVILEGES - When you and your investment adviser feel it's time to
adjust your portfolio to meet your changing investment goals, you can easily
exchange shares from one American Fund to another - without paying a sales
charge.* If you are opening an account in a different fund, you must meet that
fund's minimum investment requirement. Please remember that fund exchanges
among many types of accounts constitute a sale and purchase for tax purposes. 
Please read the prospectus before you exchange shares.
 
OTHER SERVICES - Stay on top of your investments with account statements that
keep you abreast of the activity in your account, consolidated quarterly
statements to reduce paperwork if you have multiple accounts and year-end tax
reports that show the dividends and capital gain distributions paid to you
during the year.
 
To reduce paperwork and avoid the problem of lost or destroyed certificates,
your shares are credited to your account and certificates are not issued unless
specifically requested.
 
*Investments in our money market funds - The Cash Management Trust of America,
The Tax-Exempt Money Fund of America and The U.S. Treasury Money Fund of
America - which are purchased without a sales charge, generally do not apply
when determining your sales charges. If, however, the shares were originally
purchased in another American Fund that required a sales charge, then later
exchanged into our money market funds, the value of the shares would apply
toward reducing sales charges.
 
For more complete information about these services or about any of the American
Funds, including charges and expenses, please obtain a prospectus from your
financial adviser or American Funds Service Company and read it carefully
before you invest or send money. These services are subject to change or
termination.
 
TO TALK TO A SHAREHOLDER SERVICES REPRESENTATIVE, CALL TOLL-FREE (8 A.M. TO 8
P.M. ET) FROM ANYWHERE IN THE U.S.: 800/421-0180. VISIT OUR WEB SITE AT
WWW.AMERICANFUNDS.COM
 
[illustration: map of the United States of America]
 
WESTERN 
SERVICE CENTER
American Funds Service Company
P.O. Box 2205
Brea, California 
92822-2205
 
WEST CENTRAL 
SERVICE CENTER
American Funds 
Service Company
P.O. Box 659522
San Antonio, Texas 
78265-9522
 
EAST CENTRAL 
SERVICE CENTER
American Funds 
Service Company
P.O. Box 6007
Indianapolis, Indiana 
46206-6007
 
EASTERN 
SERVICE CENTER
American Funds 
Service Company
P.O. Box 2280
Norfolk, Virginia 
23501-2280
 
OFFICES OF THE FUND AND OF THE INVESTMENT ADVISER,
CAPITAL RESEARCH AND MANAGEMENT COMPANY
333 South Hope Street
Los Angeles, California 90071-1443
 
135 South State College Boulevard
Brea, California 92821-5804
 
TRANSFER AGENT FOR SHAREHOLDER ACCOUNTS 
(Please write to the address nearest you.)
 
American Funds Service Company
P.O. Box 2205
Brea, California 92822-2205 
 
P.O. Box 659522
San Antonio, Texas 78265-9522
 
P.O. Box 6007
Indianapolis, Indiana 46206-6007
 
P.O. Box 2280
Norfolk, Virginia 23501-2280
 
CUSTODIAN OF ASSETS
The Chase Manhattan Bank
One Chase Manhattan Plaza
New York, New York 10081-0001
 
COUNSEL
Paul, Hastings, Janofsky & Walker LLP
555 South Flower Street
Los Angeles, California 90071-2371
 
PRINCIPAL UNDERWRITER
American Funds Distributors, Inc.
333 South Hope Street
Los Angeles, California 90071-1462
 
This report is for the information of shareholders of The Bond Fund of America,
but it may also be used as sales literature when preceded or accompanied by the
current prospectus, which gives details about charges, expenses, investment
objectives and operating policies of the fund. If used as sales material after
September 30, 1997, this report must be accompanied by an American Funds Group
Statistical Update for the most recently completed calendar quarter.
 
Litho in USA KBD/AL/3472
Lit. No. BFA-013-0897
Printed on recycled paper
THE AMERICAN FUNDS GROUP (R)


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