<TABLE> <S> <C>
<ARTICLE> 6
<SERIES>
<NUMBER> 002
<NAME> JOHN HANCOCK SPECIAL EQUITIES FUND
<S> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> 6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> OCT-31-2000
<PERIOD-START> NOV-01-1999
<PERIOD-END> APR-30-2000
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST> 548,239,539
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE> 780,503,437
<RECEIVABLES> 88,787
<ASSETS-OTHER> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS> 87,176
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 780,679,400
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES> 0
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES> 1,362,820
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES> 1,362,820
<SENIOR-EQUITY> 0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON> 547,308,555
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK> 16,417,326
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR> 13,516,222
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT> (60,886)
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII> 0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS> (194,517)
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS> 0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC> 232,263,428
<NET-ASSETS> 779,316,580
<DIVIDEND-INCOME> 125,963
<INTEREST-INCOME> 585,413
<OTHER-INCOME> 0
<EXPENSES-NET> 1,550,863
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME> (839,487)
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT> 72,117,158
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT> 69,642,702
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS> 140,920,373
<EQUALIZATION> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS> 84,762,594
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER> 0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD> 568,131
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED> 527,353
<SHARES-REINVESTED> 2,860,326
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS> 107,470,622
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR> (60,886)
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR> 93,920,283
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES> 647,274
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0
<GROSS-EXPENSE> 1,550,863
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS> 363,457,648
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN> 24.93
<PER-SHARE-NII> (0.04)
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC> 5.28
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND> 0
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS> (6.48)
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL> 0
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END> 23.69
<EXPENSE-RATIO> 2.32
</TABLE>
