<TABLE> <S> <C>
<ARTICLE> 6
<SERIES>
<NUMBER> 021
<NAME>SHORT TERM INCOME BOND FUND CL. A
<S> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> 6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> OCT-31-2000
<PERIOD-END> APR-30-2000
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST> 125,172,538
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE> 121,707,396
<RECEIVABLES> 2,077,326
<ASSETS-OTHER> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS> 362,901
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 124,147,623
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES> 0
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES> 1,265,707
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES> 1,265,707
<SENIOR-EQUITY> 0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON> 25,319,825
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK> 10,062,670
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR> 11,805,047
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT> 44,057
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII> 0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS> 0
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS> (2,627,276)
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC> (3,501,493)
<NET-ASSETS> 22,759,718
<DIVIDEND-INCOME> 0
<INTEREST-INCOME> 4,927,711
<OTHER-INCOME> 0
<EXPENSES-NET> 334,206
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME> 4,594,149
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT> (471,821)
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT> (1,683,599)
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS> 2,438,729
<EQUALIZATION> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME> (680,108)
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER> 0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD> 1,151,249
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED> (3,109,572)
<SHARES-REINVESTED> 215,946
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS> (47,729,313)
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR> 49,071
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR> (2,155,455)
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES> 378,668
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0
<GROSS-EXPENSE> 335,261
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS> 24,680,959
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN> 2.29
<PER-SHARE-NII> 0.06
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC> (0.03)
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND> (0.06)
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS> 0.00
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL> 0.00
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END> 2.26
<EXPENSE-RATIO> 0.99
</TABLE>