<TABLE> <S> <C>
<ARTICLE> 6
<LEGEND>
MSDW HIGH YIELD SECURITIES CLASS A
</LEGEND>
<S> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> 6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> AUG-31-2000
<PERIOD-END> FEB-29-2000
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST> 2,769,694,170
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE> 2,192,913,510
<RECEIVABLES> 59,604,013
<ASSETS-OTHER> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS> 220,060
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 2,252,737,583
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES> 0
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES> (7,092,814)
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES> (7,092,814)
<SENIOR-EQUITY> 0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON> 3,435,751,627
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK> 13,608,773
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR> 12,457,364
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT> 441,493
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII> 0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS> (613,767,691)
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS> 0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC> (576,780,660)
<NET-ASSETS> 72,185,293
<DIVIDEND-INCOME> 0
<INTEREST-INCOME> 161,729,353
<OTHER-INCOME> 0
<EXPENSES-NET> (12,830,475)
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME> 148,898,878
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT> 7,426,686
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT> (89,570,077)
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS> 66,755,487
<EQUALIZATION> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME> (5,176,657)
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER> 0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD> 10,426,968
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED> (9,768,740)
<SHARES-REINVESTED> 493,181
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS> (193,064,896)
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR> 10,091,362
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR> (621,194,377)
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES> (4,459,953)
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0
<GROSS-EXPENSE> (12,830,475)
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS> 71,902,954
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN> 5.51
<PER-SHARE-NII> 0.36
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC> (0.19)
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND> 0
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS> (0.38)
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL> 0
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END> 5.30
<EXPENSE-RATIO> 0.64
</TABLE>
