<PAGE> PAGE 1
000 A000000 09/30/98
000 C000000 0000755222
000 D000000 N
000 E000000 NF
000 F000000 Y
000 G000000 N
000 H000000 N
000 I000000 3.0.a
000 J000000 U
001 A000000 IDS PRECIOUS METALS FUND, INC.
001 B000000 811-4132
001 C000000 6126713800
002 A000000 IDS TOWER 10
002 B000000 MINNEAPOLIS
002 C000000 MN
002 D010000 55440
002 D020000 0010
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 AMERICAN EXPRESS FINANCIAL CORPORATION
008 B000001 A
008 C000001 801-14721
008 D010001 MINNEAPOLIS
008 D020001 MN
008 D030001 55440
008 D040001 0010
011 A000001 AMERICAN EXPRESS FINANCIAL ADVISORS INC.
011 B000001 8-16791
011 C010001 MINNEAPOLIS
011 C020001 MN
011 C030001 55440
011 C040001 0010
012 A000001 AMERICAN EXPRESS FINANCIAL CORPORATION
012 B000001 84-456
012 C010001 MINNEAPOLIS
012 C020001 MN
012 C030001 55440
<PAGE> PAGE 2
012 C040001 0010
013 A000001 KPMG PEAT MARWICK LLP
013 B010001 MINNEAPOLIS
013 B020001 MN
013 B030001 55402
013 B040001 3900
014 A000001 AMERICAN EXPRESS FINANCIAL CORPORATION
014 B000001 8-31250
014 A000002 AMERICAN EXPRESS FINANCIAL ADVISORS INC.
014 B000002 8-16791
014 A000003 IDS LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY
014 B000003 8-14124
014 A000004 IDS SECURITIES CORPORATION
014 B000004 8-27456
014 A000005 AMERICAN EXPRESS SERVICE CORPORATION
014 B000005 8-27456
014 A000006 AMERICAN ENTERPRISE INVESTMENT SERVICES INC.
014 B000006 8-42582
015 A000001 AMERICAN EXPRESS TRUST COMPANY
015 B000001 C
015 C010001 MINNEAPOLIS
015 C020001 MN
015 C030001 55402
015 C040001 2307
015 E010001 X
015 A000002 MORGAN STANLEY TRUST COMPANY
015 B000002 S
015 C010002 BROOKLYN
015 C020002 NY
015 C030002 11201
015 C040002 2775
015 E040002 X
018 000000 N
019 A000000 Y
019 B000000 47
019 C000000 IDSMUTFDGR
020 A000001 MERRILL LYNCH & CO., INC
020 B000001 13-5674085
020 C000001 15
020 A000002 NESBITT BURNS SECURITIES INC.
020 B000002 13-2620737
020 C000002 11
020 A000003 ABN AMRO INCORPORATED
020 B000003 13-3227945
020 C000003 10
020 A000004 JAMES CAPEL INC
020 B000004 52-1348224
020 C000004 10
020 A000005 GORDON CAPITAL INC.
020 B000005 13-2811234
020 C000005 10
<PAGE> PAGE 3
020 A000006 LOEWEN, ONDAATJE MCCUTCHEN & CO
020 B000006 N\A
020 C000006 8
020 A000007 DOMINION SECURITIES
020 B000007 13-5033225
020 C000007 6
020 A000008 PRUDENTIAL SECURITIES INC.
020 B000008 22-2347336
020 C000008 6
020 A000009 WEEDEN & CO. L.P.
020 B000009 13-3364318
020 C000009 3
020 A000010 JANNEY MONTGOMERY SCOTT INC.
020 B000010 23-0731260
020 C000010 3
021 000000 89
022 A000001 LEHMAN COMMERCIAL PAPER INC.
022 B000001 13-2501865
022 C000001 41724
022 D000001 12162
022 A000002 CREDIT SUISSE FIRST BOSTON CORP.
022 B000002 13-5659485
022 C000002 25772
022 D000002 23544
022 A000003 MORGAN STANLEY & CO., INC.
022 B000003 13-2655998
022 C000003 32962
022 D000003 13565
022 A000004 BANK OF AMERICA
022 B000004 94-1687655
022 C000004 8563
022 D000004 23617
022 A000005 MERRILL LYNCH & CO., INC.
022 B000005 13-5674085
022 C000005 20314
022 D000005 7173
022 A000006 MORGAN GUARANTY
022 B000006 13-3224016
022 C000006 10997
022 D000006 0
022 A000007 GOLDMAN, SACHS & CO.
022 B000007 13-5108880
022 C000007 7678
022 D000007 0
022 A000008 CHASE INVESTMENT SERVICES CORP.
022 B000008 13-5225436
022 C000008 7268
022 D000008 0
022 A000009 CITIBANK INVESTMENT BANK
022 B000009 13-5266470
022 C000009 2500
<PAGE> PAGE 4
022 D000009 0
022 A000010 NIKKO SECURITIES CO., INT'L INC.
022 B000010 94-1302123
022 C000010 1193
022 D000010 0
023 C000000 158970
023 D000000 80141
024 000000 N
026 A000000 N
026 B000000 Y
026 C000000 Y
026 D000000 Y
026 E000000 Y
026 F000000 N
026 G010000 N
026 G020000 N
026 H000000 N
027 000000 Y
028 A010000 29181
028 A020000 0
028 A030000 0
028 A040000 29073
028 B010000 15191
028 B020000 0
028 B030000 0
028 B040000 14921
028 C010000 23989
028 C020000 0
028 C030000 0
028 C040000 19677
028 D010000 16792
028 D020000 0
028 D030000 0
028 D040000 20261
028 E010000 9557
028 E020000 0
028 E030000 0
028 E040000 9643
028 F010000 38351
028 F020000 0
028 F030000 0
028 F040000 31819
028 G010000 133061
028 G020000 0
028 G030000 0
028 G040000 125394
028 H000000 1545
029 000000 Y
030 A000000 93
030 B000000 5.00
030 C000000 0.50
<PAGE> PAGE 5
031 A000000 36
031 B000000 0
032 000000 0
033 000000 57
034 000000 Y
035 000000 7
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 0
042 D000000 0
042 E000000 0
042 F000000 0
042 G000000 0
042 H000000 100
043 000000 30
044 000000 0
045 000000 Y
046 000000 N
047 000000 N
048 000000 0.000
048 A010000 0
048 A020000 0.000
048 B010000 0
048 B020000 0.000
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 0
048 K020000 0.000
049 000000 N
050 000000 N
<PAGE> PAGE 6
051 000000 Y
052 000000 N
053 A000000 N
054 A000000 Y
054 B000000 Y
054 C000000 Y
054 D000000 N
054 E000000 N
054 F000000 N
054 G000000 N
054 H000000 N
054 I000000 N
054 J000000 N
054 K000000 N
054 L000000 Y
054 M000000 Y
054 N000000 N
054 O000000 Y
055 A000000 N
055 B000000 N
056 000000 Y
057 000000 N
058 A000000 N
059 000000 Y
060 A000000 N
060 B000000 N
061 000000 100
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
063 A000000 0
063 B000000 0.0
066 A000000 Y
066 B000000 N
066 C000000 Y
066 D000000 N
<PAGE> PAGE 7
066 E000000 N
066 F000000 N
066 G000000 N
067 000000 N
068 A000000 Y
068 B000000 Y
069 000000 N
070 A010000 Y
070 A020000 N
070 B010000 Y
070 B020000 N
070 C010000 N
070 C020000 N
070 D010000 Y
070 D020000 N
070 E010000 N
070 E020000 N
070 F010000 Y
070 F020000 N
070 G010000 N
070 G020000 N
070 H010000 Y
070 H020000 N
070 I010000 N
070 I020000 N
070 J010000 Y
070 J020000 N
070 K010000 Y
070 K020000 N
070 L010000 Y
070 L020000 Y
070 M010000 Y
070 M020000 Y
070 N010000 Y
070 N020000 Y
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 13450
071 B000000 7453
071 C000000 52813
071 D000000 14
072 A000000 6
072 B000000 364
072 C000000 149
072 D000000 0
<PAGE> PAGE 8
072 E000000 0
072 F000000 257
072 G000000 20
072 H000000 0
072 I000000 115
072 J000000 24
072 K000000 9
072 L000000 6
072 M000000 3
072 N000000 20
072 O000000 0
072 P000000 0
072 Q000000 0
072 R000000 11
072 S000000 0
072 T000000 30
072 U000000 0
072 V000000 0
072 W000000 55
072 X000000 550
072 Y000000 5
072 Z000000 -32
072AA000000 0
072BB000000 7020
072CC010000 0
072CC020000 3754
072DD010000 0
072DD020000 0
072EE000000 0
073 A010000 0.0000
073 A020000 0.0000
073 B000000 0.0000
073 C000000 0.0000
074 A000000 3498
074 B000000 0
074 C000000 7884
074 D000000 835
074 E000000 0
074 F000000 54747
074 G000000 0
074 H000000 0
074 I000000 137
074 J000000 0
074 K000000 0
074 L000000 54
074 M000000 0
074 N000000 67155
074 O000000 0
074 P000000 2
074 Q000000 0
074 R010000 0
<PAGE> PAGE 9
074 R020000 0
074 R030000 0
074 R040000 37
074 S000000 0
074 T000000 67116
074 U010000 11853
074 U020000 0
074 V010000 0.00
074 V020000 0.00
074 W000000 0.0000
074 X000000 14733
074 Y000000 0
075 A000000 0
075 B000000 62631
076 000000 0.00
077 A000000 Y
077 B000000 N
077 C000000 N
077 D000000 N
077 E000000 N
077 F000000 N
077 G000000 N
077 H000000 N
077 I000000 N
077 J000000 N
077 K000000 N
077 L000000 N
077 M000000 N
077 N000000 N
077 O000000 N
077 P000000 N
077 Q010000 Y
077 Q020000 N
077 Q030000 N
078 000000 N
SIGNATURE LESLIE L. OGG
TITLE VICE PRESIDENT
<TABLE> <S> <C>
<ARTICLE> 6
<SERIES>
<NUMBER> 2
<NAME> IDS PRECIOUS METALS FUND CLASS A
<S> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> 6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> MAR-31-1999
<PERIOD-END> SEP-30-1998
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST> 85102285
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE> 63465989
<RECEIVABLES> 190730
<ASSETS-OTHER> 3498736
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS> 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 67155455
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES> 0
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES> 39166
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES> 39166
<SENIOR-EQUITY> 0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON> 102704662
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK> 10427154
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR> 9016059
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT> 0
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII> 5216
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS> 0
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS> 13949489
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC> (21633668)
<NET-ASSETS> 59162154
<DIVIDEND-INCOME> 148963
<INTEREST-INCOME> 363976
<OTHER-INCOME> 0
<EXPENSES-NET> 544670
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME> (31731)
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT> (7020216)
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT> (3753972)
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS> (10805919)
<EQUALIZATION> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER> 0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD> 22380126
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED> 20969031
<SHARES-REINVESTED> 0
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS> (3138323)
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR> 26515
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR> 6929273
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES> 256756
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0
<GROSS-EXPENSE> 549885
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS> 55516108
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN> 6.82
<PER-SHARE-NII> .01
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC> (1.16)
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND> .00
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS> .00
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL> .00
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END> 5.67
<EXPENSE-RATIO> 1.63
<AVG-DEBT-OUTSTANDING> 0
<AVG-DEBT-PER-SHARE> 0
</TABLE>
<TABLE> <S> <C>
<ARTICLE> 6
<SERIES>
<NUMBER> 3
<NAME> IDS PRECIOUS METALS FUND CLASS B
<S> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> 6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> MAR-31-1999
<PERIOD-END> SEP-30-1998
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST> 85102285
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE> 63465989
<RECEIVABLES> 190730
<ASSETS-OTHER> 3498736
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS> 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 67155455
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES> 0
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES> 39166
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES> 39166
<SENIOR-EQUITY> 0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON> 102704662
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK> 1425433
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR> 1306854
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT> 0
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII> 5216
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS> 0
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS> 13949489
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC> (21633668)
<NET-ASSETS> 7953376
<DIVIDEND-INCOME> 148963
<INTEREST-INCOME> 363976
<OTHER-INCOME> 0
<EXPENSES-NET> 544670
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME> (31731)
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT> (7020216)
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT> (3753972)
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS> (10805919)
<EQUALIZATION> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER> 0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD> 399203
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED> 280624
<SHARES-REINVESTED> 0
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS> (3138323)
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR> 26515
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR> 6929273
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES> 256756
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0
<GROSS-EXPENSE> 549885
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS> 7998357
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN> 6.73
<PER-SHARE-NII> (0.07)
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC> (1.08)
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND> .00
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS> .00
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL> .00
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END> 5.58
<EXPENSE-RATIO> 2.42
<AVG-DEBT-OUTSTANDING> 0
<AVG-DEBT-PER-SHARE> 0
</TABLE>
<TABLE> <S> <C>
<ARTICLE> 6
<SERIES>
<NUMBER> 4
<NAME> IDS PRECIOUS METALS FUND CLASS Y
<S> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> 6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> MAR-31-1999
<PERIOD-END> SEP-30-1998
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST> 85102285
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE> 63465989
<RECEIVABLES> 190730
<ASSETS-OTHER> 3498736
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS> 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 67155455
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES> 0
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES> 39166
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES> 39166
<SENIOR-EQUITY> 0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON> 102704662
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK> 134
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR> 134
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT> 0
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII> 5216
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS> 0
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS> 13949489
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC> (21633668)
<NET-ASSETS> 759
<DIVIDEND-INCOME> 148963
<INTEREST-INCOME> 363976
<OTHER-INCOME> 0
<EXPENSES-NET> 544670
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME> (31731)
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT> (7020216)
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT> (3753972)
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS> (10805919)
<EQUALIZATION> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER> 0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD> 0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED> 0
<SHARES-REINVESTED> 0
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS> (3138323)
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR> 26515
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR> 6929273
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES> 256756
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0
<GROSS-EXPENSE> 549885
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS> 793
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN> 6.80
<PER-SHARE-NII> .03
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC> (1.17)
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND> .00
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS> .00
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL> .00
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END> 5.66
<EXPENSE-RATIO> 1.36
<AVG-DEBT-OUTSTANDING> 0
<AVG-DEBT-PER-SHARE> 0
</TABLE>
