MERRILL LYNCH BALANCED FD FOR INV & RET
NSAR-A, 1996-05-29
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<PAGE>      PAGE  1
000 A000000 03/31/96
000 C000000 0000746637
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 ML BALANCED FUND FOR INV. & RET., INC.
001 B000000 811-4035
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 Y
007 B000000  1
007 C010100  1
007 C020100 FULL INVESTMENT PORTFOLIO
007 C030100 N
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 A00AA01 MERRILL LYNCH ASSET MANAGEMENT, L.P.
008 B00AA01 A
008 C00AA01 801-11583
008 D01AA01 PRINCETON
008 D02AA01 NJ
008 D03AA01 08543
008 D04AA01 9011
011 A00AA01 MERRILL LYNCH FUNDS DISTRIBUTOR, INC.
011 B00AA01 8-14663
011 C01AA01 PRINCETON
011 C02AA01 NJ
011 C03AA01 08543
011 C04AA01 9011
012 A00AA01 MERRILL LYNCH FINANCIAL DATA SERVICES, INC.
012 B00AA01 84-01339
012 C01AA01 JACKSONVILLE
<PAGE>      PAGE  2
012 C02AA01 FL
012 C03AA01 32246
012 C04AA01 6484
013 A00AA01 DELOITTE & TOUCHE LLP
013 B01AA01 PRINCETON
013 B02AA01 NJ
013 B03AA01 08540
014 A00AA01 MERRILL LYNCH, PIERCE, FENNER & SMITH INC.
014 B00AA01 8-7221
015 A00AA01 THE CHASE MANHATTAN BANK, N.A.
015 B00AA01 C
015 C01AA01 BROOKLYN
015 C02AA01 NY
015 C03AA01 11245
015 E01AA01 X
015 A00AA02 SHENZEN SECURITIES REGISTRATION CORPORATION
015 B00AA02 S
015 C01AA02 SHENZEN
015 D01AA02 CHINA
015 E04AA02 X
015 A00AA03 VAERDIPAPIRCENTRALEN - VP CENTER
015 B00AA03 S
015 C01AA03 DENMARK
015 D01AA03 DENMARK
015 E04AA03 X
015 A00AA04 CREDITANSTALT-BANKVEREIN
015 B00AA04 S
015 C01AA04 VIENNA
015 D01AA04 AUSTRIA
015 E04AA04 X
015 A00AA05 GENERALE BANK
015 B00AA05 S
015 C01AA05 BRUSSELS
015 D01AA05 BELGIUM
015 E04AA05 X
015 A00AA06 BANCO CHASE MANHATTAN, S.A.
015 B00AA06 S
015 C01AA06 RIO DE JANEIRO
015 D01AA06 BRAZIL
015 E04AA06 X
015 A00AA07 ROYAL BANK OF CANADA
015 B00AA07 S
015 C01AA07 TORONTO
015 D01AA07 CANADA
015 E04AA07 X
015 A00AA08 DEN DANSKE BANK
015 B00AA08 S
015 C01AA08 COPENHAGEN
015 D01AA08 DENMARK
015 E04AA08 X
015 A00AA09 KANSALLIS-OSAKE-PANKKI
<PAGE>      PAGE  3
015 B00AA09 S
015 C01AA09 HELSINKI
015 D01AA09 FINLAND
015 E04AA09 X
015 A00AA10 BANK PARIBAS
015 B00AA10 S
015 C01AA10 PARIS
015 D01AA10 FRANCE
015 E04AA10 X
015 A00AA11 CHASE BANK A.G.
015 B00AA11 S
015 C01AA11 FRANKFURT
015 D01AA11 GERMANY
015 E04AA11 X
015 A00AA12 ABN-AMRO BANK N.V.
015 B00AA12 S
015 C01AA12 AMSTERDAM
015 D01AA12 NETHERLANDS
015 D02AA12 4800
015 E04AA12 X
015 A00AA13 CIK
015 B00AA13 S
015 C01AA13 BELGIUM
015 D01AA13 BELGIUM
015 E04AA13 X
015 A00AA14 BANK OF IRELAND
015 B00AA14 S
015 C01AA14 DUBLIN
015 D01AA14 REPUBLIC OF IRELAND
015 E04AA14 X
015 A00AA15 CEDEL S.A.
015 B00AA15 S
015 C01AA15 LUXEMBOURG
015 D01AA15 LUXEMBOURG
015 E04AA15 X
015 A00AA16 CITIBANK, N.A.
015 B00AA16 S
015 C01AA16 NEW YORK
015 C02AA16 NY
015 C03AA16 10015
015 E01AA16 X
015 A00AA17 DEN NORSKE BANK
015 B00AA17 S
015 C01AA17 OSLO
015 D01AA17 NORWAY
015 E04AA17 X
015 A00AA18 HONG KONG AND SHANGHAI BANKING CORP. LIMITED
015 B00AA18 S
015 C01AA18 HONG KONG
015 D01AA18 HONG KONG
015 E04AA18 X
<PAGE>      PAGE  4
015 A00AA19 BANCO ESPIRITO SANTO E COMMERCIAL DE LISBOA
015 B00AA19 S
015 C01AA19 LISBON
015 D01AA19 PORTUGAL
015 D02AA19 1200
015 E04AA19 X
015 A00AA20 BANK HANDLOWY W WARZAWIE, S.A.
015 B00AA20 S
015 C01AA20 WARSAW
015 D01AA20 POLAND
015 D02AA20 00-920
015 E04AA20 X
015 A00AA21 SKANDINAVISKA ENSKILDA BANKEN
015 B00AA21 S
015 C01AA21 STOCKHOLM
015 D01AA21 SWEDEN
015 D02AA21 S-106 40
015 E04AA21 X
015 A00AA22 UNION BANK OF SWITZERLAND
015 B00AA22 S
015 C01AA22 ZURICH
015 D01AA22 SWITZERLAND
015 D02AA22 8021
015 E04AA22 X
015 A00AA23 FIRST NATIONAL BANK OF CHICAGO
015 B00AA23 S
015 C01AA23 LONDON
015 D01AA23 ENGLAND
015 D02AA23 EC3A 1AA
015 E04AA23 X
015 A00AA24 CANADA TRUST COMPANY
015 B00AA24 S
015 C01AA24 TORONTO
015 D01AA24 CANADA
015 D02AA24 M5J 2T2
015 E04AA24 X
015 A00AA25 CITITRUST COLUMBIA S.A. SCIEDAD FIDUCIARIA
015 B00AA25 S
015 C01AA25 BOGOTA
015 D01AA25 COLUMBIA
015 E04AA25 X
015 A00AA26 CITIBANK BUDAPEST RT.
015 B00AA26 S
015 C01AA26 BUDAPEST
015 D01AA26 HUNGARY
015 E04AA26 X
015 A00AA27 NATIONAL NOMINEES LIMITED
015 B00AA27 S
015 C01AA27 AUCKLAND
015 D01AA27 NEW ZEALAND
015 E04AA27 X
<PAGE>      PAGE  5
015 A00AA28 STANDARD BANK OF SOUTH AFRICA
015 B00AA28 S
015 C01AA28 JOHANNESBURG
015 D01AA28 SOUTH AFRICA
015 E04AA28 X
015 A00AA29 BANQUE BRUXELLES LAMBERT
015 B00AA29 S
015 C01AA29 MADRID
015 D01AA29 SPAIN
015 E04AA29 X
015 A00AA30 CAJA DE VALORES, S.A.
015 B00AA30 S
015 C01AA30 ARGENTINA
015 D01AA30 ARGENTINA
015 E04AA30 X
015 A00AA31 AUSTRACLEAR LIMITED
015 B00AA31 S
015 C01AA31 AUSTRALIA
015 D01AA31 AUSTRALIA
015 E04AA31 X
015 A00AA32 RITS
015 B00AA32 S
015 C01AA32 AUSTRALIA
015 D01AA32 AUSTRALIA
015 E04AA32 X
015 A00AA33 OESTERROICHISCHA KONTROLLBANK
015 B00AA33 S
015 C01AA33 AUSTRIA
015 D01AA33 AUSTRIA
015 E04AA33 X
015 A00AA34 SAO PAULO STOCK EXCHANGE
015 B00AA34 S
015 C01AA34 BRAZIL
015 D01AA34 BRAZIL
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015 A00AA35 CANADIAN DEPOSITORY FOR SECURITIES
015 B00AA35 S
015 C01AA35 CANADA
015 D01AA35 CANADA
015 E04AA35 X
015 A00AA36 SHANGHAI SECURITIES CENTRAL CLEARING
015 B00AA36 S
015 C01AA36 SHANGHAI
015 D01AA36 CHINA
015 E04AA36 X
015 A00AA37 PANKKITARKASTUS VIRASTO
015 B00AA37 S
015 C01AA37 FINLAND
015 D01AA37 FINLAND
015 E04AA37 X
015 A00AA38 SICOVAM
<PAGE>      PAGE  6
015 B00AA38 S
015 C01AA38 FRANCE
015 D01AA38 FRANCE
015 E04AA38 X
015 A00AA39 DEUTSCHER KASSENVEREIN A.G.
015 B00AA39 S
015 C01AA39 GERMANY
015 D01AA39 GERMANY
015 E04AA39 X
015 A00AA40 CCASS
015 B00AA40 S
015 C01AA40 HONG KONG
015 D01AA40 HONG KONG
015 E04AA40 X
015 A00AA41 MONTE TITOLI
015 B00AA41 S
015 C01AA41 ITALY
015 D01AA41 ITALY
015 E04AA41 X
015 A00AA42 MALAYSIAN CENTRAL DEPOSITORY SDN BHN
015 B00AA42 S
015 C01AA42 MALAYSIA
015 D01AA42 MALAYSIA
015 E04AA42 X
015 A00AA43 THE BANK OF NEW YORK
015 B00AA43 S
015 C01AA43 NEW YORK
015 C02AA43 NY
015 C03AA43 10015
015 E01AA43 X
015 A00AA44 BANKERS TRUST COMPANY
015 B00AA44 S
015 C01AA44 NEW YORK
015 C02AA44 NY
015 C03AA44 10006
015 E01AA44 X
015 A00AA45 CHEMICAL BANK
015 B00AA45 S
015 C01AA45 NEW YORK
015 C02AA45 NY
015 C03AA45 10017
015 E01AA45 X
015 A00AA46 CUSTODIAL TRUST CO.
015 B00AA46 S
015 C01AA46 NEW YORK
015 C02AA46 NY
015 C03AA46 10167
015 E01AA46 X
015 A00AA47 MORGAN GUARANTEE TRUST CO.
015 B00AA47 S
015 C01AA47 NEW YORK
<PAGE>      PAGE  7
015 C02AA47 NY
015 C03AA47 10260
015 E01AA47 X
015 A00AA48 STANDARD CHARTERED BANK
015 B00AA48 S
015 C01AA48 BANGLADESH
015 D01AA48 BANGLADESH
015 E04AA48 X
015 A00AA49 DEUTSCHE BANK, A.G.
015 B00AA49 S
015 C01AA49 PAKISTAN
015 D01AA49 PAKISTAN
015 E04AA49 X
015 A00AA50 INDEVAL
015 B00AA50 S
015 C01AA50 MEXICO
015 D01AA50 MEXICO
015 E04AA50 X
015 A00AA51 NECIGEF
015 B00AA51 S
015 C01AA51 NETHERLANDS
015 D01AA51 NETHERLANDS
015 E04AA51 X
015 A00AA52 VPS
015 B00AA52 S
015 C01AA52 NORWAY
015 D01AA52 NORWAY
015 E04AA52 X
015 A00AA53 NDS
015 B00AA53 S
015 C01AA53 POLAND
015 D01AA53 POLAND
015 E04AA53 X
015 A00AA54 CENTRAL DE VALORES MOBILAROS
015 B00AA54 S
015 C01AA54 PORTUGAL
015 D01AA54 PORTUGAL
015 E04AA54 X
015 A00AA55 CDP
015 B00AA55 S
015 C01AA55 SINGAPORE
015 D01AA55 SINGAPORE
015 E04AA55 X
015 A00AA56 KSDC
015 B00AA56 S
015 C01AA56 SOUTH KOREA
015 D01AA56 SOUTH KOREA
015 E04AA56 X
015 A00AA57 SCL
015 B00AA57 S
015 C01AA57 SPAIN
<PAGE>      PAGE  8
015 D01AA57 SPAIN
015 E04AA57 X
015 A00AA58 VPC
015 B00AA58 S
015 C01AA58 SWEDEN
015 D01AA58 SWEDEN
015 E04AA58 X
015 A00AA59 SEGA
015 B00AA59 S
015 C01AA59 SWITZERLAND
015 D01AA59 SWITZERLAND
015 E04AA59 X
015 A00AA60 TSCD
015 B00AA60 S
015 C01AA60 TAIWAN
015 D01AA60 TAIWAN
015 E04AA60 X
015 A00AA61 SDC
015 B00AA61 S
015 C01AA61 THAILAND
015 D01AA61 THAILAND
015 E04AA61 X
018  00AA00 Y
019 A00AA00 Y
019 B00AA00  180
019 C00AA00 MERRILLLYN
020 A000001 BEAR, STEARNS & CO. INC.
020 B000001 13-3299429
020 C000001     39
020 A000002 SALOMON BROTHERS INC
020 B000002 13-3082694
020 C000002     37
020 A000003 PAINEWEBBER INCORPORATED
020 B000003 13-2638166
020 C000003     29
020 A000004 MORGAN KEEGAN & COMPANY, INCORPORATED
020 B000004 64-0474907
020 C000004     23
020 A000005 SCHRODER WERTHEIM & CO. INCORPORATED
020 B000005 13-2697272
020 C000005     22
020 A000006 LEGG MASON WOOD WALKER, INC.
020 B000006 52-0902557
020 C000006     21
020 A000007 MORGAN STANLEY & CO. INCORPORATED
020 B000007 13-2655998
020 C000007     21
020 A000008 DEAN WITTER REYNOLDS INC.
020 C000008     20
020 A000009 WHEAT FIRST BUTCHER SINGER, INC.
020 B000009 54-0796506
<PAGE>      PAGE  9
020 C000009     15
020 A000010 LEHMAN BROTHERS INC.
020 B000010 13-2518466
020 C000010      8
021  000000      301
022 A000001 GENERAL ELECTRIC CAPITAL CORP.
022 C000001    761225
022 D000001         0
022 A000002 ASSOCIATES CORP. OF NORTH AMERICA
022 C000002    255398
022 D000002         0
022 A000003 GOLDMAN, SACHS & CO.
022 B000003 13-5108880
022 C000003    107499
022 D000003     17277
022 A000004 FORD MOTOR CREDIT CO.
022 C000004    122371
022 D000004         0
022 A000005 HSBC SECURITIES, INC.
022 B000005 13-2650272
022 C000005     45867
022 D000005      8604
022 A000006 MORGAN STANLEY & CO. INCORPORATED
022 B000006 13-2655998
022 C000006     12935
022 D000006     32585
022 A000007 SALOMON BROTHERS INC
022 B000007 13-3082694
022 C000007     13876
022 D000007     15725
022 A000008 DEUTSCHE MORGAN GRENFELL/C.J. LAWRENCE INC.
022 B000008 13-2730828
022 C000008     22444
022 D000008         0
022 A000009 CITICORP SECURITIES, INC.
022 C000009     19345
022 D000009         0
022 A000010 CS FIRST BOSTON CORPORATION
022 B000010 13-5659485
022 C000010     14930
022 D000010         0
023 C000000    1417337
023 D000000      89329
024  00AA00 N
026 A000000 N
026 B000000 Y
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026 F000000 N
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<PAGE>      PAGE  10
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<PAGE>      PAGE  11
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<PAGE>      PAGE  12
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<PAGE>      PAGE  13
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<PAGE>      PAGE  15
SIGNATURE   GERALD M. RICHARD                            
TITLE       TREASURER           
 


<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE> 6
<CIK> 0000746637
<NAME> ML BALANCED FUND FOR INVESTMENT AND RETIREMENT, INC.
<SERIES>
   <NUMBER> 011
   <NAME> FULL INVESTMENT PORTFOLIO
       
<S>                             <C>
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