MERRILL LYNCH STRATEGIC DIVIDEND FUND
NSAR-A, 1997-03-27
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<PAGE>      PAGE  1
000 A000000 01/31/97
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<PAGE>      PAGE  2
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<PAGE>      PAGE  7
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<PAGE>      PAGE  8
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<PAGE>      PAGE  9
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SIGNATURE   GERALD M. RICHARD                            
TITLE       TREASURER           
 


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<ARTICLE> 6
<CIK> 0000814507
<NAME> MERRILL LYNCH STRATEGIC DIVIDEND FUND
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   <NAME> CLASS A
       
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<ARTICLE> 6
<CIK> 0000814507
<NAME> MERRILL LYNCH STRATEGIC DIVIDEND FUND
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   <NAME> CLASS B
       
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<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE> 6
<CIK> 0000814507
<NAME> MERRILL LYNCH STRATEGIC DIVIDEND FUND
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<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE> 6
<CIK> 0000814507
<NAME> MERRILL LYNCH STRATEGIC DIVIDEND FUND
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   <NUMBER> 004
   <NAME> CLASS D
       
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</TABLE>


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