<TABLE> <S> <C>
<ARTICLE> 6
<CIK> 0000806390
<NAME> STATE STREET RESEARCH FINANCIAL TRUST
<SERIES>
<NUMBER> 041
<NAME> STATE STREET RESEARCH STRATEGIC INCOME PLUS CLASS A
<S> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> 6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> OCT-31-2000
<PERIOD-END> APR-30-2000
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST> 39,267,932
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE> 40,006,778
<RECEIVABLES> 1,923,534
<ASSETS-OTHER> 170,366
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS> 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 42,100,678
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES> 5,897,045
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES> 4,273,943
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES> 10,170,988
<SENIOR-EQUITY> 0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON> 30,262,822
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK> 52,193
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR> 49,422
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT> 371,596
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII> 0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS> 525,567
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS> 0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC> 769,705
<NET-ASSETS> 31,929,690
<DIVIDEND-INCOME> 41,341
<INTEREST-INCOME> 902,396
<OTHER-INCOME> 0
<EXPENSES-NET> 154,078
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME> 789,659
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT> 670,419
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT> (175,186)
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS> 1,284,892
<EQUALIZATION> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME> (12,728)
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS> (1,136)
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER> 0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD> 2,655
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED> 0
<SHARES-REINVESTED> 116
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS> (1,357,820)
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR> 443,408
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR> 69,888
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES> 97,471
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0
<GROSS-EXPENSE> 251,886
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS> 32,490,333
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN> 10.11
<PER-SHARE-NII> 0.24
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC> 0.15
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND> (0.26)
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS> (0.02)
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL> 0
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END> 10.22
<EXPENSE-RATIO> 1.15
</TABLE>
