MERRILL LYNCH PHOENIX FUND INC
NSAR-A, 1996-03-25
Previous: SEI CASH & PLUS TRUST, 24F-2NT, 1996-03-25
Next: DIAGNOSTIC PRODUCTS CORP, 10-K405, 1996-03-25



<PAGE>      PAGE  1
000 A000000 01/31/96
000 C000000 0000701960
000 D000000 N
000 E000000 NF
000 F000000 Y
000 G000000 N
000 H000000 N
000 I000000 3.0.a
000 J000000 A
001 A000000 MERRILL LYNCH PHOENIX FUND, INC.
001 B000000 811-3450
001 C000000 6092827165
002 A000000 P.O. BOX 9066
002 B000000 PRINCETON
002 C000000 NJ
002 D010000 08543
002 D020000 9066
003  000000 N
004  000000 N
005  000000 N
006  000000 N
007 A000000 N
007 B000000  0
007 C010100  1
007 C010200  2
007 C010300  3
007 C010400  4
007 C010500  5
007 C010600  6
007 C010700  7
007 C010800  8
007 C010900  9
007 C011000 10
008 A000001 FUND ASSET MANAGEMENT, L.P.
008 B000001 A
008 C000001 801-12485
008 D010001 PRINCETON
008 D020001 NJ
008 D030001 08543
008 D040001 9011
011 A000001 MERRILL LYNCH FUNDS DISTRIBUTOR, INC.
011 B000001 8-14663
011 C010001 PRINCETON
011 C020001 NJ
011 C030001 08543
011 C040001 9011
012 A000001 MERRILL LYNCH FINANCIAL DATA SERVICES, INC.
012 B000001 84-01339
012 C010001 JACKSONVILLE
012 C020001 FL
012 C030001 32246
<PAGE>      PAGE  2
012 C040001 6484
013 A000001 DELOITTE & TOUCHE LLP
013 B010001 PRINCETON
013 B020001 NJ
013 B030001 08540
014 A000001 MERRILL LYNCH, PIERCE, FENNER & SMITH INC.
014 B000001 8-7221
015 A000001 THE CHASE MANHATTAN BANK, N.A.
015 B000001 C
015 C010001 BROOKLYN
015 C020001 NY
015 C030001 11245
015 E010001 X
015 A000002 RITS
015 B000002 S
015 C010002 SYDNEY
015 D010002 AUSTRALIA
015 E040002 X
015 A000003 BANK LEUMI LE-ISRAEL B.M.
015 B000003 S
015 C010003 TEL AVIV
015 D010003 ISRAEL
015 E040003 X
015 A000004 CHASE MANHATTAN BANK AUSTRALIA LIMITED
015 B000004 S
015 C010004 SYDNEY
015 D010004 AUSTRALIA
015 E040004 X
015 A000005 CITIBANK, N.A.
015 B000005 S
015 C010005 NEW YORK
015 C020005 NY
015 C030005 10007
015 E010005 X
015 A000006 AUSTRACLEAR LIMITED
015 B000006 S
015 C010006 AUSTRALIA
015 D010006 AUSTRALIA
015 E040006 X
015 A000007 CDS
015 B000007 S
015 C010007 CANADA
015 D010007 CANADA
015 E040007 X
015 A000008 VAERDIPAPIRCENTRALEN
015 B000008 S
015 C010008 DENMARK
015 D010008 DENMARK
015 E040008 X
015 A000009 KANSALLIS - OSAKE - PANKKI
015 B000009 S
<PAGE>      PAGE  3
015 C010009 HELSINKI
015 D010009 FINLAND
015 E040009 X
015 A000010 ABN AMRO BANK N.V.
015 B000010 S
015 C010010 AMSTERDAM
015 D010010 NETHERLANDS
015 E040010 X
015 A000011 ROYAL BANK OF CANADA
015 B000011 S
015 C010011 TORONTO
015 D010011 CANADA
015 E040011 X
015 A000012 CANADA TRUST COMPANY
015 B000012 S
015 C010012 TORONTO
015 D010012 CANADA
015 E040012 X
015 A000013 DEN DANSKE BANK
015 B000013 S
015 C010013 COPENHAGEN
015 D010013 DENMARK
015 E040013 X
015 A000014 BANQUE PARIBAS
015 B000014 S
015 C010014 PARIS
015 D010014 FRANCE
015 E040014 X
015 A000015 CHASE BANK A.G.
015 B000015 S
015 C010015 FRANKFURT
015 D010015 GERMANY
015 E040015 X
015 A000016 PANKKITARKASTUS VIRASTO
015 B000016 S
015 C010016 FINLAND
015 D010016 FINLAND
015 E040016 X
015 A000017 SICOVAM
015 B000017 S
015 C010017 FRANCE
015 D010017 FRANCE
015 E040017 X
015 A000018 BANK OF IRELAND
015 B000018 S
015 C010018 DUBLIN
015 D010018 IRELAND
015 E040018 X
015 A000019 KV
015 B000019 S
015 C010019 GERMANY
<PAGE>      PAGE  4
015 D010019 GERMANY
015 E040019 X
015 A000020 NATIONAL NOMINEES LIMITED
015 B000020 S
015 C010020 AUCKLAND
015 D010020 NEW ZEALAND
015 E040020 X
015 A000021 DEN NORSKE BANK
015 B000021 S
015 C010021 OSLO
015 D010021 NORWAY
015 E040021 X
015 A000022 HONG KONG AND SHANGHAI BANKING CORP. LIMIT
015 B000022 S
015 C010022 HONG KONG
015 D010022 HONG KONG
015 E040022 X
015 A000023 BANCO ESPIRITO SANTO E COMMERCIAL DE LISBOA
015 B000023 S
015 C010023 LISBON
015 D010023 PORTUGAL
015 E040023 X
015 A000024 SKANDINAVISKA ENSKILDA BANKEN
015 B000024 S
015 C010024 STOCKHOLM
015 D010024 SWEDEN
015 E040024 X
015 A000025 UNION BANK OF SWITZERLAND
015 B000025 S
015 C010025 ZURICH
015 D010025 SWITZERLAND
015 E040025 X
015 A000026 CEDEL S.A.
015 B000026 S
015 C010026 LUXEMBOURG
015 D010026 LUXEMBOURG
015 E040026 X
015 A000027 FIRST NATIONAL BANK OF CHICAGO
015 B000027 S
015 C010027 LONDON
015 D010027 ENGLAND
015 E040027 X
015 A000028 CCASS
015 B000028 S
015 C010028 HONG KONG
015 D010028 HONG KONG
015 E040028 X
015 A000029 MONTE TITOLI
015 B000029 S
015 C010029 ITALY
015 D010029 ITALY
<PAGE>      PAGE  5
015 E040029 X
015 A000030 INDEVAL
015 B000030 S
015 C010030 MEXICO
015 D010030 MEXICO
015 E040030 X
015 A000031 BANQUE BRUXELLES LAMBERT
015 B000031 S
015 C010031 MADRID
015 D010031 SPAIN
015 E040031 X
015 A000032 VPS
015 B000032 S
015 C010032 NORWAY
015 D010032 NORWAY
015 E040032 X
015 A000033 CENTRAL DE VALORES MOBILAROS
015 B000033 S
015 C010033 PORTUGAL
015 D010033 PORTUGAL
015 E040033 X
015 A000034 CDP
015 B000034 S
015 C010034 SINGAPORE
015 D010034 SINGAPORE
015 E040034 X
015 A000035 SCL
015 B000035 S
015 C010035 SPAIN
015 D010035 SPAIN
015 E040035 X
015 A000036 VPC
015 B000036 S
015 C010036 SWEDEN
015 D010036 SWEDEN
015 E040036 X
015 A000037 SEGA
015 B000037 S
015 C010037 SWITZERLAND
015 D010037 SWITZERLAND
015 E040037 X
015 A000038 SDC
015 B000038 S
015 C010038 THAILAND
015 D010038 THAILAND
015 E040038 X
015 A000039 CMO
015 B000039 S
015 C010039 UNITED KINGDOM
015 D010039 UNITED KINGDOM
015 E040039 X
<PAGE>      PAGE  6
015 A000040 THE BANK OF NEW YORK
015 B000040 S
015 C010040 NEW YORK
015 C020040 NY
015 C030040 10015
015 E010040 X
015 A000041 BANKERS TRUST COMPANY
015 B000041 S
015 C010041 NEW YORK
015 C020041 NY
015 C030041 10006
015 E010041 X
015 A000042 CHEMICAL BANK
015 B000042 S
015 C010042 NEW YORK
015 C020042 NY
015 C030042 10017
015 E010042 X
015 A000043 CUSTODIAL TRUST CO.
015 B000043 S
015 C010043 NEW YORK
015 C020043 NY
015 C030043 10167
015 E010043 X
015 A000044 MORGAN GUARANTEE TRUST CO.
015 B000044 S
015 C010044 NEW YORK
015 C020044 NY
015 C030044 10260
015 E010044 X
015 A000045 CGO
015 B000045 S
015 C010045 UNITED KINGDOM
015 D010045 UNITED KINGDOM
015 E040045 X
015 A000046 NECIGEF
015 B000046 S
015 C010046 NETHERLANDS
015 D010046 NETHERLANDS
015 E040046 X
015 A000047 THE BANK OF ENGLAND
015 B000047 S
015 C010047 ENGLAND
015 D010047 ENGLAND
015 E040047 X
015 A000048 TASE
015 B000048 S
015 C010048 ISRAEL
015 D010048 ISRAEL
015 E040048 X
015 A000049 CHASE MANHATTAN BANK MEXICO, S.A.
<PAGE>      PAGE  7
015 B000049 S
015 C010049 MEXICO
015 D010049 MEXICO
015 E040049 X
015 A000050 MULTIPLE BANCO NACIONAL DE MEXICO S.A.
015 B000050 S
015 C010050 MEXICO
015 D010050 MEXICO
015 E040050 X
015 A000051 AUSTRACLEAR NZ
015 B000051 S
015 C010051 NEW ZEALAND
015 D010051 NEW ZEALAND
015 E040051 X
018  000000 Y
019 A000000 Y
019 B000000  180
019 C000000 MERRILLLYN
020 A000001 SALOMON BROTHERS INC
020 B000001 13-3082694
020 C000001    128
020 A000002 SOUTH COAST CAPITAL CORPORATION
020 B000002 72-1164960
020 C000002    117
020 A000003 MORGAN STANLEY & CO. INCORPORATED
020 B000003 13-2655998
020 C000003    115
020 A000004 UBS SECURITIES INC.
020 B000004 13-2932996
020 C000004    105
020 A000005 DEUTSCHE BANK SECURITIES CORPORATION
020 B000005 13-2730828
020 C000005    101
020 A000006 BUCKINGHAM RESEARCH GROUP INCORPORATED (THE)
020 B000006 13-3134008
020 C000006     90
020 A000007 RAYMOND JAMES & ASSOCIATES, INC.
020 B000007 59-1237041
020 C000007     72
020 A000008 SMITH BARNEY INC.
020 B000008 13-1912900
020 C000008     72
020 A000009 FURMAN SELZ INCORPORATED
020 B000009 13-2753731
020 C000009     59
020 A000010 MERRILL LYNCH, PIERCE, FENNER & SMITH INC.
020 B000010 13-5674085
020 C000010     51
021  000000     1616
022 A000001 GENERAL ELECTRIC CAPITAL CORP.
022 C000001   2319011
<PAGE>      PAGE  8
022 D000001         0
022 A000002 HSBC SECURITIES, INC.
022 B000002 13-2650272
022 C000002    125092
022 D000002         0
022 A000003 CS FIRST BOSTON CORPORATION
022 B000003 13-5659485
022 C000003    101756
022 D000003     12858
022 A000004 GOLDMAN, SACHS & CO.
022 B000004 13-5108880
022 C000004     50243
022 D000004      6450
022 A000005 PAINEWEBBER INCORPORATED
022 B000005 13-2638166
022 C000005     23843
022 D000005      1485
022 A000006 FRIEDMAN, BILLINGS, RAMSEY & CO., INC.
022 B000006 52-1630477
022 C000006      1827
022 D000006     12404
022 A000007 SCHRODER WERTHEIM & CO. INCORPORATED
022 B000007 13-2697272
022 C000007      6169
022 D000007      7199
022 A000008 UBS SECURITIES INC.
022 B000008 13-2932996
022 C000008         0
022 D000008     10302
022 A000009 BDS SECURITIES CORPORATION
022 B000009 13-3442669
022 C000009      2057
022 D000009      6044
022 A000010 DABNEY/RESNICK INC.
022 C000010      5994
022 D000010      2069
023 C000000    2676824
023 D000000      94023
024  000000 N
026 A000000 N
026 B000000 Y
026 C000000 N
026 D000000 Y
026 E000000 N
026 F000000 N
026 G010000 N
026 G020000 N
026 H000000 N
027  000000 Y
028 A010000     19931
028 A020000         0
<PAGE>      PAGE  9
028 A030000         0
028 A040000     13469
028 B010000     27636
028 B020000     14241
028 B030000         0
028 B040000     34418
028 C010000     12858
028 C020000         0
028 C030000         0
028 C040000     13544
028 D010000     12140
028 D020000         0
028 D030000         0
028 D040000     13068
028 E010000     15603
028 E020000      9923
028 E030000         0
028 E040000     17750
028 F010000     13214
028 F020000         0
028 F030000         0
028 F040000     27451
028 G010000    101382
028 G020000     24164
028 G030000         0
028 G040000    119700
028 H000000     28890
029  000000 Y
030 A000000    105
030 B000000  5.25
030 C000000  0.00
031 A000000      8
031 B000000      0
032  000000      0
033  000000     97
034  000000 Y
035  000000    274
036 A000000 N
036 B000000      0
037  000000 N
038  000000      0
039  000000 N
040  000000 Y
041  000000 Y
042 A000000   0
042 B000000   0
042 C000000 100
042 D000000   0
042 E000000   0
042 F000000   0
042 G000000   0
<PAGE>      PAGE  10
042 H000000   0
043  000000   2187
044  000000      0
045  000000 Y
046  000000 N
047  000000 Y
048  000000  0.000
048 A010000   500000
048 A020000 1.000
048 B010000   500000
048 B020000 0.950
048 C010000        0
048 C020000 0.000
048 D010000        0
048 D020000 0.000
048 E010000        0
048 E020000 0.000
048 F010000        0
048 F020000 0.000
048 G010000        0
048 G020000 0.000
048 H010000        0
048 H020000 0.000
048 I010000        0
048 I020000 0.000
048 J010000        0
048 J020000 0.000
048 K010000  1000000
048 K020000 0.900
049  000000 N
050  000000 N
051  000000 N
052  000000 N
053 A000000 N
054 A000000 Y
054 B000000 Y
054 C000000 N
054 D000000 N
054 E000000 N
054 F000000 N
054 G000000 N
054 H000000 Y
054 I000000 N
054 J000000 Y
054 K000000 N
054 L000000 N
054 M000000 Y
054 N000000 N
055 A000000 N
055 B000000 N
056  000000 Y
<PAGE>      PAGE  11
057  000000 N
058 A000000 N
059  000000 Y
060 A000000 Y
060 B000000 Y
061  000000        0
062 A000000 N
062 B000000   0.0
062 C000000   0.0
062 D000000   0.0
062 E000000   0.0
062 F000000   0.0
062 G000000   0.0
062 H000000   0.0
062 I000000   0.0
062 J000000   0.0
062 K000000   0.0
062 L000000   0.0
062 M000000   0.0
062 N000000   0.0
062 O000000   0.0
062 P000000   0.0
062 Q000000   0.0
062 R000000   0.0
066 A000000 Y
066 B000000 N
066 C000000 N
066 D000000 Y
066 E000000 N
066 F000000 N
066 G000000 N
067  000000 N
068 A000000 N
068 B000000 N
069  000000 N
070 A010000 N
070 A020000 N
070 B010000 N
070 B020000 N
070 C010000 N
070 C020000 N
070 D010000 N
070 D020000 N
070 E010000 N
070 E020000 N
070 F010000 N
070 F020000 N
070 G010000 N
070 G020000 N
070 H010000 N
070 H020000 N
<PAGE>      PAGE  12
070 I010000 N
070 I020000 N
070 J010000 Y
070 J020000 Y
070 K010000 Y
070 K020000 N
070 L010000 Y
070 L020000 Y
070 M010000 Y
070 M020000 Y
070 N010000 Y
070 N020000 N
070 O010000 Y
070 O020000 N
070 P010000 Y
070 P020000 Y
070 Q010000 N
070 Q020000 N
070 R010000 N
070 R020000 N
071 A000000    235320
071 B000000    257249
071 C000000    688363
071 D000000   34
072 A000000  6
072 B000000     5946
072 C000000     2584
072 D000000        0
072 E000000        0
072 F000000     3701
072 G000000       36
072 H000000        0
072 I000000      725
072 J000000       38
072 K000000        0
072 L000000       97
072 M000000       32
072 N000000       75
072 O000000        0
072 P000000        0
072 Q000000        0
072 R000000       28
072 S000000       22
072 T000000     2187
072 U000000        0
072 V000000        0
072 W000000       10
072 X000000     6951
072 Y000000        0
072 Z000000     1579
072AA000000    61232
<PAGE>      PAGE  13
072BB000000    28306
072CC010000        0
072CC020000    33846
072DD010000     3104
072DD020000     1179
072EE000000    33195
073 A010000   0.0000
073 A020000   0.0000
073 B000000   0.0000
073 C000000   0.0000
074 A000000     4508
074 B000000        0
074 C000000    52540
074 D000000   107698
074 E000000     1980
074 F000000   552322
074 G000000        0
074 H000000        0
074 I000000        0
074 J000000     9339
074 K000000        0
074 L000000     1687
074 M000000      154
074 N000000   730228
074 O000000     7378
074 P000000     1017
074 Q000000        0
074 R010000        0
074 R020000        0
074 R030000        0
074 R040000     3500
074 S000000        0
074 T000000   718333
074 U010000    24446
074 U020000    32444
074 V010000     0.00
074 V020000     0.00
074 W000000   0.0000
074 X000000    71991
074 Y000000        0
075 A000000        0
075 B000000   748608
076  000000     0.00
077 A000000 N
078  000000 N
SIGNATURE   GERALD M. RICHARD                            
TITLE       TREASURER           
 

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

<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE> 6
<CIK> 0000701960
<NAME> MERRILL LYNCH PHOENIX FUND, INC.
       
<S>                             <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          JUL-31-1996
<PERIOD-START>                             AUG-01-1995
<PERIOD-END>                               JAN-31-1996
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST>                        698703880
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE>                       714539604
<RECEIVABLES>                                 11026660
<ASSETS-OTHER>                                 4661705
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS>                                 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               730227969
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES>                       7378172
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT>                              0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES>                      4517034
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES>                           11895206
<SENIOR-EQUITY>                                      0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON>                     680477100
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK>                         21204187
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR>                         21298138
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT>                       221695
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII>                               0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS>                       21801559
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS>                             0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC>                      15832409
<NET-ASSETS>                                 271367581
<DIVIDEND-INCOME>                              2583600
<INTEREST-INCOME>                              5946028
<OTHER-INCOME>                                       0
<EXPENSES-NET>                                 6950782
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME>                        1578846
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT>                      32925908
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT>                   (33846198)
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS>                           658556
<EQUALIZATION>                                       0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME>                      2797570
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS>                      12381777
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER>                                0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD>                        2082398
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED>                    2917225
<SHARES-REINVESTED>                             740876
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS>                      (30973618)
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR>                        2926373
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR>                     21376898
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR>                              0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR>                           0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES>                          3701004
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                   0
<GROSS-EXPENSE>                                6950782
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS>                         282796528
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN>                            13.44
<PER-SHARE-NII>                                    .07
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC>                              0
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND>                               .13
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS>                          .58
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL>                                 0
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END>                              12.80
<EXPENSE-RATIO>                                   1.25
<AVG-DEBT-OUTSTANDING>                               0
<AVG-DEBT-PER-SHARE>                                 0
        

</TABLE>
WARNING: THE EDGAR SYSTEM ENCOUNTERED ERROR(S) WHILE PROCESSING THIS SCHEDULE.

<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE> 6
<CIK> 0000701960
<NAME> MERRILL LYNCH PHOENIX FUND, INC.
       
<S>                             <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          JUL-31-1996
<PERIOD-START>                             AUG-01-1995
<PERIOD-END>                               JAN-31-1996
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST>                        698703880
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE>                       714539604
<RECEIVABLES>                                 11026660
<ASSETS-OTHER>                                 4661705
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS>                                 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               730227969
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES>                       7378172
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT>                              0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES>                      4517034
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES>                           11895206
<SENIOR-EQUITY>                                      0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON>                     680477100
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK>                         31299629
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR>                         31627532
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT>                       221695
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII>                               0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS>                       21801559
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS>                             0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC>                      15832409
<NET-ASSETS>                                 391253755
<DIVIDEND-INCOME>                              2583600
<INTEREST-INCOME>                              5946028
<OTHER-INCOME>                                       0
<EXPENSES-NET>                                 6950782
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME>                        1578846
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT>                      32925908
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT>                   (33846198)
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS>                           658556
<EQUALIZATION>                                       0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME>                      1123308
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS>                      18485951
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER>                                0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD>                        4144519
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED>                    5418454
<SHARES-REINVESTED>                             946032
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS>                      (30973618)
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR>                        2926373
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR>                     21376898
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR>                              0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR>                           0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES>                          3701004
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                   0
<GROSS-EXPENSE>                                6950782
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS>                         411518423
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN>                            13.12
<PER-SHARE-NII>                                      0
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC>                              0
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND>                               .04
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS>                          .58
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL>                                 0
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END>                              12.50
<EXPENSE-RATIO>                                   2.27
<AVG-DEBT-OUTSTANDING>                               0
<AVG-DEBT-PER-SHARE>                                 0
        


</TABLE>
WARNING: THE EDGAR SYSTEM ENCOUNTERED ERROR(S) WHILE PROCESSING THIS SCHEDULE.

<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE> 6
<CIK> 0000701960
<NAME> MERRILL LYNCH PHOENIX FUND, INC.
       
<S>                             <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          JUL-31-1996
<PERIOD-START>                             AUG-01-1995
<PERIOD-END>                               JAN-31-1996
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST>                        698703880
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE>                       714539604
<RECEIVABLES>                                 11026660
<ASSETS-OTHER>                                 4661705
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS>                                 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               730227969
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES>                       7378172
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT>                              0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES>                      4517034
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES>                           11895206
<SENIOR-EQUITY>                                      0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON>                     680477100
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK>                          1144803
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR>                           900838
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT>                       221695
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII>                               0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS>                       21801559
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS>                             0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC>                      15832409
<NET-ASSETS>                                  14233090
<DIVIDEND-INCOME>                              2583600
<INTEREST-INCOME>                              5946028
<OTHER-INCOME>                                       0
<EXPENSES-NET>                                 6950782
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME>                        1578846
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT>                      32925908
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT>                   (33846198)
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS>                           658556
<EQUALIZATION>                                       0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME>                        55726
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS>                        584344
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER>                                0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD>                         418296
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED>                     206510
<SHARES-REINVESTED>                              32179
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS>                      (30973618)
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR>                        2926373
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR>                     21376898
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR>                              0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR>                           0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES>                          3701004
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                   0
<GROSS-EXPENSE>                                6950782
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS>                          13103508
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN>                            13.07
<PER-SHARE-NII>                                      0
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC>                              0
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND>                               .06
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS>                          .58
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL>                                 0
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END>                              12.43
<EXPENSE-RATIO>                                   2.29
<AVG-DEBT-OUTSTANDING>                               0
<AVG-DEBT-PER-SHARE>                                 0
        

</TABLE>

<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE> 6
<CIK> 0000701960
<NAME> MERRILL LYNCH PHOENIX FUND, INC.
       
<S>                             <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          JUL-31-1996
<PERIOD-START>                             AUG-01-1995
<PERIOD-END>                               JAN-31-1996
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST>                        698703880
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE>                       714539604
<RECEIVABLES>                                 11026660
<ASSETS-OTHER>                                 4661705
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS>                                 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               730227969
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES>                       7378172
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT>                              0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES>                      4517034
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES>                           11895206
<SENIOR-EQUITY>                                      0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON>                     680477100
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK>                          3241492
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR>                          2709547
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT>                       221695
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII>                               0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS>                       21801559
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS>                             0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC>                      15832409
<NET-ASSETS>                                  41478337
<DIVIDEND-INCOME>                              2583600
<INTEREST-INCOME>                              5946028
<OTHER-INCOME>                                       0
<EXPENSES-NET>                                 6950782
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME>                        1578846
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT>                      32925908
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT>                   (33846198)
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS>                           658556
<EQUALIZATION>                                       0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME>                       306920
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS>                       1742435
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER>                                0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD>                        1322646
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED>                     896263
<SHARES-REINVESTED>                             105562
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS>                      (30973618)
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR>                        2926373
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR>                     21376898
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR>                              0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR>                           0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES>                          3701004
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                   0
<GROSS-EXPENSE>                                6950782
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS>                          41189913
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN>                            13.43
<PER-SHARE-NII>                                    .05
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC>                              0
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND>                               .10
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS>                          .58
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL>                                 0
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END>                              12.80
<EXPENSE-RATIO>                                   1.50
<AVG-DEBT-OUTSTANDING>                               0
<AVG-DEBT-PER-SHARE>                                 0
        

</TABLE>


© 2022 IncJournal is not affiliated with or endorsed by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission