<PAGE> PAGE 1
000 A000000 10/31/97
000 C000000 0000789281
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 FEDERATED INCOME SECURITIES TRUST
001 B000000 811-4577
001 C000000 4122882614
002 A000000 FEDERATED INVESTORS TOWER
002 B000000 PITTSBURGH
002 C000000 PA
002 D010000 15222
002 D020000 3779
003 000000 N
004 000000 N
005 000000 N
006 000000 N
007 A000000 Y
007 B000000 2
007 C010100 1
007 C020100 FEDERATED SHORT-TERM INCOME FUND
007 C030100 N
007 C010200 2
007 C020200 FEDERATED INTERMEDIATE INCOME FUND
007 C030200 N
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 FEDERATED MANAGEMENT
008 B00AA01 A
008 C00AA01 801-34610
008 D01AA01 PITTSBURGH
008 D02AA01 PA
008 D03AA01 15222
008 D04AA01 3779
010 A00AA01 FEDERATED SERVICES COMPANY
010 C01AA01 PITTSBURGH
010 C02AA01 PA
010 C03AA01 15222
010 C04AA01 3779
011 A00AA01 FEDERATED SECURITIES CORP.
011 B00AA01 8-15561
<PAGE> PAGE 2
011 C01AA01 PITTSBURGH
011 C02AA01 PA
011 C03AA01 15222
011 C04AA01 3779
012 A00AA01 FEDERATED SHAREHOLDER SERVICES COMPANY
012 B00AA01 84-1869
012 C01AA01 PITTSBURGH
012 C02AA01 PA
012 C03AA01 15222
012 C04AA01 3779
013 A00AA01 ERNST & YOUNG LLP
013 B01AA01 PITTSBURGH
013 B02AA01 PA
013 B03AA01 15219
018 00AA00 Y
019 A00AA00 N
019 B00AA00 0
020 C000001 0
020 C000002 0
020 C000003 0
020 C000004 0
020 C000005 0
020 C000006 0
020 C000007 0
020 C000008 0
020 C000009 0
020 C000010 0
021 000000 0
022 A000001 BT SECURITIES CORP.
022 B000001 13-4941247
022 C000001 969985
022 D000001 0
022 A000002 MORGAN STANLEY & CO., INC.
022 B000002 13-2655998
022 C000002 9360
022 D000002 9380
022 A000003 BEAR, STEARNS SECURITIES CORP.
022 C000003 7034
022 D000003 5241
022 A000004 LEHMAN BROTHERS, INC.
022 B000004 13-2518466
022 C000004 9997
022 D000004 758
022 A000005 GOLDMAN, SACHS & CO.
022 B000005 13-5108880
022 C000005 8838
022 D000005 481
022 A000006 MERRILL LYNCH, PIERCE, FENNER & SMITH, INC.
022 B000006 13-5674085
022 C000006 6973
022 D000006 358
<PAGE> PAGE 3
022 A000007 CHASE MANHATTAN BANK, N.A.
022 B000007 13-2633612
022 C000007 7045
022 D000007 0
022 A000008 RAYMOND JAMES & ASSOCIATES, INC.
022 B000008 59-1237041
022 C000008 3351
022 D000008 3022
022 A000009 UBS SECURITIES, INC.
022 B000009 13-2932996
022 C000009 2140
022 D000009 3636
022 A000010 FIRST ALBANY CORPORATION
022 B000010 14-139446
022 C000010 4654
022 D000010 0
023 C000000 1065672
023 D000000 36468
026 A000000 N
026 B000000 Y
026 C000000 Y
026 D000000 N
026 E000000 Y
026 F000000 N
026 G010000 N
026 G020000 N
026 H000000 Y
027 000000 Y
029 00AA00 N
030 A00AA00 0
030 B00AA00 0.00
030 C00AA00 0.00
031 A00AA00 0
031 B00AA00 0
032 00AA00 0
033 00AA00 0
034 00AA00 N
035 00AA00 0
036 B00AA00 0
049 00AA00 N
050 00AA00 N
051 00AA00 N
052 00AA00 N
053 A00AA00 Y
053 B00AA00 Y
053 C00AA00 N
054 A00AA00 N
054 B00AA00 N
054 C00AA00 N
054 D00AA00 N
054 E00AA00 N
<PAGE> PAGE 4
054 F00AA00 N
054 G00AA00 N
054 H00AA00 N
054 I00AA00 N
054 J00AA00 N
054 K00AA00 N
054 L00AA00 N
054 M00AA00 N
054 N00AA00 N
054 O00AA00 N
055 A00AA00 Y
055 B00AA00 N
056 00AA00 N
057 00AA00 N
058 A00AA00 N
059 00AA00 Y
060 A00AA00 Y
060 B00AA00 Y
061 00AA00 25000
066 A00AA00 N
067 00AA00 N
068 A00AA00 N
068 B00AA00 N
069 00AA00 N
077 A000000 N
078 000000 N
080 C00AA00 0
081 B00AA00 0
082 B00AA00 0
086 A010000 0
086 A020000 0
086 B010000 0
086 B020000 0
086 C010000 0
086 C020000 0
086 D010000 0
086 D020000 0
086 E010000 0
086 E020000 0
086 F010000 0
086 F020000 0
015 A000101 STATE STREET BANK AND TRUST COMPANY
015 B000101 C
015 C010101 BOSTON
015 C020101 MA
015 C030101 02266
015 C040101 8600
015 E010101 X
015 A000102 BANKERS TRUST CO.
015 B000102 S
015 C010102 NEW YORK
<PAGE> PAGE 5
015 C020102 NY
015 C030102 10015
015 E010102 X
015 A000103 BANK OF NEW YORK
015 B000103 S
015 C010103 NEW YORK
015 C020103 NY
015 C030103 10006
015 E010103 X
015 A000104 THE CHASE MANHATTAN CORPORATION
015 B000104 S
015 C010104 NEW YORK
015 C020104 NY
015 C030104 10006
015 E010104 X
015 A000105 MORGAN GUARANTY BANK & TRUST CO.
015 B000105 S
015 C010105 NEW YORK
015 C020105 NY
015 C030105 10015
015 E010105 X
015 A000106 NATIONSBANK OF NORTH CAROLINA
015 B000106 S
015 C010106 CHARLOTTE
015 C020106 NC
015 C030106 28255
015 E010106 X
015 A000107 PNC BANK, NA
015 B000107 S
015 C010107 PITTSBURGH
015 C020107 PA
015 C030107 15265
015 E010107 X
024 000100 Y
025 A000101 LEHMAN BROTHERS
025 C000101 D
025 D000101 2000
025 D000102 0
025 D000103 0
025 D000104 0
025 D000105 0
025 D000106 0
025 D000107 0
025 D000108 0
028 A010100 4912
028 A020100 223
028 A030100 0
028 A040100 14301
028 B010100 5559
028 B020100 274
028 B030100 0
<PAGE> PAGE 6
028 B040100 6765
028 C010100 8670
028 C020100 283
028 C030100 0
028 C040100 7664
028 D010100 8562
028 D020100 292
028 D030100 0
028 D040100 17701
028 E010100 10227
028 E020100 300
028 E030100 0
028 E040100 7118
028 F010100 11080
028 F020100 309
028 F030100 0
028 F040100 14051
028 G010100 49010
028 G020100 1681
028 G030100 0
028 G040100 67600
028 H000100 0
037 000100 N
038 000100 0
039 000100 N
040 000100 N
042 A000100 0
042 B000100 0
042 C000100 0
042 D000100 0
042 E000100 0
042 F000100 0
042 G000100 0
042 H000100 0
043 000100 0
044 000100 0
045 000100 Y
046 000100 N
047 000100 Y
048 000100 0.400
048 A010100 0
048 A020100 0.000
048 B010100 0
048 B020100 0.000
048 C010100 0
048 C020100 0.000
048 D010100 0
048 D020100 0.000
048 E010100 0
048 E020100 0.000
048 F010100 0
<PAGE> PAGE 7
048 F020100 0.000
048 G010100 0
048 G020100 0.000
048 H010100 0
048 H020100 0.000
048 I010100 0
048 I020100 0.000
048 J010100 0
048 J020100 0.000
048 K010100 0
048 K020100 0.000
062 A000100 Y
062 B000100 0.0
062 C000100 0.0
062 D000100 0.0
062 E000100 0.0
062 F000100 0.0
062 G000100 0.0
062 H000100 0.0
062 I000100 0.0
062 J000100 0.0
062 K000100 0.0
062 L000100 0.0
062 M000100 5.6
062 N000100 0.0
062 O000100 0.0
062 P000100 23.6
062 Q000100 69.9
062 R000100 0.0
063 A000100 0
063 B000100 0.0
064 A000100 N
064 B000100 N
070 A010100 Y
070 A020100 Y
070 B010100 N
070 B020100 N
070 C010100 N
070 C020100 N
070 D010100 N
070 D020100 N
070 E010100 N
070 E020100 N
070 F010100 N
070 F020100 N
070 G010100 N
070 G020100 N
070 H010100 N
070 H020100 N
070 I010100 N
070 I020100 N
<PAGE> PAGE 8
070 J010100 Y
070 J020100 Y
070 K010100 Y
070 K020100 N
070 L010100 Y
070 L020100 Y
070 M010100 N
070 M020100 N
070 N010100 Y
070 N020100 N
070 O010100 Y
070 O020100 N
070 P010100 Y
070 P020100 Y
070 Q010100 N
070 Q020100 N
070 R010100 Y
070 R020100 N
071 A000100 55020
071 B000100 58414
071 C000100 213677
071 D000100 26
072 A000100 6
072 B000100 7117
072 C000100 0
072 D000100 0
072 E000100 0
072 F000100 445
072 G000100 84
072 H000100 0
072 I000100 39
072 J000100 9
072 K000100 0
072 L000100 12
072 M000100 4
072 N000100 14
072 O000100 2
072 P000100 0
072 Q000100 39
072 R000100 9
072 S000100 2
072 T000100 300
072 U000100 0
072 V000100 0
072 W000100 6
072 X000100 966
072 Y000100 316
072 Z000100 6468
072AA000100 217
072BB000100 458
072CC010100 2417
<PAGE> PAGE 9
072CC020100 0
072DD010100 6242
072DD020100 502
072EE000100 0
073 A010100 0.2700
073 A020100 0.2600
073 B000100 0.0000
073 C000100 0.0000
074 A000100 0
074 B000100 0
074 C000100 0
074 D000100 214962
074 E000100 0
074 F000100 0
074 G000100 0
074 H000100 0
074 I000100 0
074 J000100 0
074 K000100 0
074 L000100 7614
074 M000100 0
074 N000100 222576
074 O000100 3068
074 P000100 0
074 Q000100 0
074 R010100 0
074 R020100 0
074 R030100 0
074 R040100 2493
074 S000100 0
074 T000100 217015
074 U010100 22914
074 U020100 1863
074 V010100 8.76
074 V020100 8.76
074 W000100 0.0000
074 X000100 1443
074 Y000100 0
075 A000100 0
075 B000100 222148
076 000100 0.00
015 A000201 STATE STREET BANK AND TRUST COMPANY
015 B000201 C
015 C010201 BOSTON
015 C020201 MA
015 C030201 02266
015 C040201 8602
015 E010201 X
015 A000202 BANKERS TRUST CO.
015 B000202 S
015 C010202 NEW YORK
<PAGE> PAGE 10
015 C020202 NY
015 C030202 10015
015 E010202 X
015 A000203 BANK OF NEW YORK
015 B000203 S
015 C010203 NEW YORK
015 C020203 NY
015 C030203 10006
015 E010203 X
015 A000204 THE CHASE MANHATTAN CORPORATION
015 B000204 S
015 C010204 NEW YORK
015 C020204 NY
015 C030204 10006
015 E010204 X
015 A000205 MORGAN GUARANTY BANK & TRUST CO.
015 B000205 S
015 C010205 NEW YORK
015 C020205 NY
015 C030205 10015
015 E010205 X
015 A000206 NATIONSBANK OF NORTH CAROLINA
015 B000206 S
015 C010206 CHARLOTTE
015 C020206 NC
015 C030206 28255
015 E010206 X
015 A000207 PNC BANK, NA
015 B000207 S
015 C010207 PITTSBURGH
015 C020207 PA
015 C030207 15265
015 E010207 X
024 000200 Y
025 A000201 DLJ
025 C000201 D
025 D000201 1500
025 A000202 LEHMAN BROTHERS
025 C000202 D
025 D000202 2000
025 A000203 DELETE
025 D000203 0
025 A000204 DELETE
025 D000204 0
025 D000205 0
025 D000206 0
025 D000207 0
025 D000208 0
028 A010200 4233
028 A020200 106
028 A030200 0
<PAGE> PAGE 11
028 A040200 2028
028 B010200 3565
028 B020200 110
028 B030200 0
028 B040200 2853
028 C010200 7518
028 C020200 114
028 C030200 0
028 C040200 3348
028 D010200 4692
028 D020200 123
028 D030200 0
028 D040200 2004
028 E010200 4134
028 E020200 127
028 E030200 0
028 E040200 2539
028 F010200 6584
028 F020200 0
028 F030200 0
028 F040200 2613
028 G010200 30726
028 G020200 580
028 G030200 0
028 G040200 15385
028 H000200 0
037 000200 N
038 000200 0
039 000200 N
040 000200 N
042 A000200 0
042 B000200 0
042 C000200 0
042 D000200 0
042 E000200 0
042 F000200 0
042 G000200 0
042 H000200 0
043 000200 0
044 000200 0
045 000200 Y
046 000200 N
047 000200 Y
048 000200 0.500
048 A010200 0
048 A020200 0.000
048 B010200 0
048 B020200 0.000
048 C010200 0
048 C020200 0.000
048 D010200 0
<PAGE> PAGE 12
048 D020200 0.000
048 E010200 0
048 E020200 0.000
048 F010200 0
048 F020200 0.000
048 G010200 0
048 G020200 0.000
048 H010200 0
048 H020200 0.000
048 I010200 0
048 I020200 0.000
048 J010200 0
048 J020200 0.000
048 K010200 0
048 K020200 0.000
062 A000200 Y
062 B000200 0.0
062 C000200 0.0
062 D000200 1.4
062 E000200 0.0
062 F000200 0.0
062 G000200 0.0
062 H000200 0.0
062 I000200 0.0
062 J000200 0.0
062 K000200 0.0
062 L000200 0.0
062 M000200 5.6
062 N000200 19.7
062 O000200 0.0
062 P000200 72.4
062 Q000200 0.9
062 R000200 0.0
063 A000200 0
063 B000200 9.6
064 A000200 Y
064 B000200 N
070 A010200 Y
070 A020200 Y
070 B010200 N
070 B020200 N
070 C010200 Y
070 C020200 N
070 D010200 N
070 D020200 N
070 E010200 N
070 E020200 N
070 F010200 N
070 F020200 N
070 G010200 Y
070 G020200 N
<PAGE> PAGE 13
070 H010200 N
070 H020200 N
070 I010200 N
070 I020200 N
070 J010200 Y
070 J020200 Y
070 K010200 Y
070 K020200 N
070 L010200 Y
070 L020200 Y
070 M010200 Y
070 M020200 N
070 N010200 Y
070 N020200 N
070 O010200 Y
070 O020200 N
070 P010200 Y
070 P020200 N
070 Q010200 N
070 Q020200 N
070 R010200 N
070 R020200 N
071 A000200 40511
071 B000200 21781
071 C000200 128124
071 D000200 17
072 A000200 6
072 B000200 4576
072 C000200 0
072 D000200 0
072 E000200 0
072 F000200 331
072 G000200 78
072 H000200 0
072 I000200 20
072 J000200 5
072 K000200 0
072 L000200 11
072 M000200 1
072 N000200 20
072 O000200 2
072 P000200 0
072 Q000200 33
072 R000200 9
072 S000200 2
072 T000200 167
072 U000200 0
072 V000200 0
072 W000200 19
072 X000200 698
072 Y000200 329
<PAGE> PAGE 14
072 Z000200 4207
072AA000200 422
072BB000200 154
072CC010200 4039
072CC020200 0
072DD010200 4175
072DD020200 32
072EE000200 0
073 A010200 0.3200
073 A020200 0.3100
073 B000200 0.0000
073 C000200 0.0000
074 A000200 0
074 B000200 1955
074 C000200 0
074 D000200 140256
074 E000200 0
074 F000200 0
074 G000200 0
074 H000200 0
074 I000200 0
074 J000200 3876
074 K000200 0
074 L000200 2843
074 M000200 20
074 N000200 148950
074 O000200 5431
074 P000200 0
074 Q000200 0
074 R010200 0
074 R020200 0
074 R030200 0
074 R040200 1193
074 S000200 0
074 T000200 142326
074 U010200 13855
074 U020200 202
074 V010200 10.12
074 V020200 10.12
074 W000200 0.0000
074 X000200 352
074 Y000200 0
075 A000200 0
075 B000200 131644
076 000200 0.00
SIGNATURE S. ELLIOTT COHAN
TITLE ASST. GEN. COUNSEL
<TABLE> <S> <C>
<S> <C>
<ARTICLE> 6
<SERIES>
<NUMBER> 011
<NAME> Federated Income Securities Trust
Federated Short-Term Income Fund
Institutional Shares
<PERIOD-TYPE> 6-mos
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> Apr-30-1998
<PERIOD-END> Oct-31-1997
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST> 213,726,730
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE> 214,961,977
<RECEIVABLES> 7,613,760
<ASSETS-OTHER> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS> 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 222,575,737
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES> 3,068,020
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES> 2,493,194
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES> 5,561,214
<SENIOR-EQUITY> 0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON> 241,132,375
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK> 22,914,397
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR> 24,692,959
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT> 0
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII> (505,892)
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS> (24,847,207)
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS> 0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC> 1,235,247
<NET-ASSETS> 200,698,573
<DIVIDEND-INCOME> 0
<INTEREST-INCOME> 7,117,052
<OTHER-INCOME> 0
<EXPENSES-NET> 649,390
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME> 6,467,662
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT> (241,324)
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT> 2,417,184
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS> 8,643,522
<EQUALIZATION> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME> 6,242,487
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER> 0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD> 5,019,185
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED> 6,966,768
<SHARES-REINVESTED> 169,021
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS> 15,009,054
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR> 0
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR> (24,605,883)
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR> 229,129
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES> 445,013
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0
<GROSS-EXPENSE> 965,693
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS> 222,148,362
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN> 8.680
<PER-SHARE-NII> 0.260
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC> 0.090
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND> 0.270
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS> 0.000
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL> 0.000
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END> 8.760
<EXPENSE-RATIO> 0.56
<AVG-DEBT-OUTSTANDING> 0
<AVG-DEBT-PER-SHARE> 0.000
</TABLE>
<TABLE> <S> <C>
<S> <C>
<ARTICLE> 6
<SERIES>
<NUMBER> 012
<NAME> Federated Income Securities Trust
Federated Short-Term Income Fund
Institutional Service Shares
<PERIOD-TYPE> 6-mos
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> Apr-30-1998
<PERIOD-END> Oct-31-1997
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST> 213,726,730
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE> 214,961,977
<RECEIVABLES> 7,613,760
<ASSETS-OTHER> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS> 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 222,575,737
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES> 3,068,020
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES> 2,493,194
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES> 5,561,214
<SENIOR-EQUITY> 0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON> 241,132,375
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK> 1,862,870
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR> 2,025,017
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT> 0
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII> (505,892)
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS> (24,847,207)
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS> 0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC> 1,235,247
<NET-ASSETS> 16,315,950
<DIVIDEND-INCOME> 0
<INTEREST-INCOME> 7,117,052
<OTHER-INCOME> 0
<EXPENSES-NET> 649,390
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME> 6,467,662
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT> (241,324)
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT> 2,417,184
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS> 8,643,522
<EQUALIZATION> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME> 501,938
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER> 0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD> 593,704
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED> 779,591
<SHARES-REINVESTED> 23,740
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS> 15,009,054
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR> 0
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR> (24,605,883)
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR> 229,129
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES> 445,013
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0
<GROSS-EXPENSE> 965,693
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS> 222,148,362
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN> 8.680
<PER-SHARE-NII> 0.250
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC> 0.090
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND> 0.260
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS> 0.000
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL> 0.000
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END> 8.760
<EXPENSE-RATIO> 0.81
<AVG-DEBT-OUTSTANDING> 0
<AVG-DEBT-PER-SHARE> 0.000
</TABLE>
<TABLE> <S> <C>
<S> <C>
<ARTICLE> 6
<SERIES>
<NUMBER> 021
<NAME> Federated Income Securities Trust
Federated Intermediate Income Fund
Institutional Shares
<PERIOD-TYPE> 6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> Apr-30-1998
<PERIOD-END> Oct-31-1997
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST> 138,870,334
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE> 142,210,812
<RECEIVABLES> 6,718,900
<ASSETS-OTHER> 20,298
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS> 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 148,950,010
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES> 5,430,600
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES> 1,193,076
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES> 6,623,676
<SENIOR-EQUITY> 0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON> 139,085,868
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK> 13,854,871
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR> 12,386,311
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT> 12,086
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII> 0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS> (112,098)
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS> 0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC> 3,340,478
<NET-ASSETS> 140,278,274
<DIVIDEND-INCOME> 0
<INTEREST-INCOME> 4,575,801
<OTHER-INCOME> 0
<EXPENSES-NET> 368,673
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME> 4,207,128
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT> 268,203
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT> 4,039,435
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS> 8,514,766
<EQUALIZATION> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME> 4,175,248
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER> 0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD> 2,943,341
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED> 1,531,517
<SHARES-REINVESTED> 56,736
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS> 20,229,367
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR> 0
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR> (380,301)
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES> 331,324
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0
<GROSS-EXPENSE> 698,145
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS> 131,644,264
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN> 9.790
<PER-SHARE-NII> 0.320
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC> 0.330
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND> 0.320
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS> 0.000
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL> 0.000
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END> 10.120
<EXPENSE-RATIO> 0.55
<AVG-DEBT-OUTSTANDING> 0
<AVG-DEBT-PER-SHARE> 0.000
</TABLE>
<TABLE> <S> <C>
<S> <C>
<ARTICLE> 6
<SERIES>
<NUMBER> 022
<NAME> Federated Income Securities Trust
Federated Intermediate Income Fund
Institutional Service Shares
<PERIOD-TYPE> 6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> Apr-30-1998
<PERIOD-END> Oct-31-1997
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST> 138,870,334
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE> 142,210,812
<RECEIVABLES> 6,718,900
<ASSETS-OTHER> 20,298
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS> 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 148,950,010
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES> 5,430,600
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES> 1,193,076
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES> 6,623,676
<SENIOR-EQUITY> 0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON> 139,085,868
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK> 202,279
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR> 80,688
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT> 12,086
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII> 0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS> (112,098)
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS> 0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC> 3,340,478
<NET-ASSETS> 2,048,060
<DIVIDEND-INCOME> 0
<INTEREST-INCOME> 4,575,801
<OTHER-INCOME> 0
<EXPENSES-NET> 368,673
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME> 4,207,128
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT> 268,203
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT> 4,039,435
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS> 8,514,766
<EQUALIZATION> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME> 31,880
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER> 0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD> 130,861
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED> 10,668
<SHARES-REINVESTED> 1,398
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS> 20,229,367
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR> 0
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR> (380,301)
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES> 331,324
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0
<GROSS-EXPENSE> 698,145
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS> 131,644,264
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN> 9.790
<PER-SHARE-NII> 0.310
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC> 0.330
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND> 0.310
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS> 0.000
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL> 0.000
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END> 10.120
<EXPENSE-RATIO> 0.80
<AVG-DEBT-OUTSTANDING> 0
<AVG-DEBT-PER-SHARE> 0.000
</TABLE>
