PRICE T ROWE INDEX TRUST INC
N-30D, 1998-02-05
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- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                  T. Rowe Price
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                  Annual Report
                                Equity Index Fund
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                December 31, 1997
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

REPORT HIGHLIGHTS
================================================================================
EQUITY INDEX FUND

*    Despite some  volatility,  the Equity Index Fund posted a 10.40% return for
     the six months  ended  December  31, 1997,  capping an  outstanding  32.87%
     return for the year.

*    The fund closely tracked the returns of its benchmark index, the S&P 500.

*    Several sectors,  including utilities,  financials,  and consumer services,
     performed  extremely well during the period.  Most natural  resource stocks
     sharply lagged the overall market.

*    Although we are not  forecasting  a major  correction,  we expect that high
     volatility  will continue.  It seems unlikely that the index can post gains
     comparable with 1997's.

FELLOW SHAREHOLDERS

     In an  environment  of nearly  ideal  economic  conditions,  the Standard &
Poor's 500 Stock Index posted another  outstanding  six-month  gain,  capping an
astonishing  three-year  cumulative  return  of over  123%.  Even an  escalating
currency  crisis in Southeast  Asia, and the global market declines that ensued,
were not enough to halt the longstanding bull market.
<PAGE>

================================================================================
Performance Comparison
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Periods Ended 12/31/97                             6 Months         12 Months
Equity Index Fund                                    10.40%            32.87%
S&P 500                                              10.58             33.36
================================================================================

     The Equity Index Fund's performance reflected these positive trends. Its 6-
and 12-month gains of 10.40% and 32.87%,  respectively,  closely tracked the S&P
500's  returns,  the  difference  owing  primarily to the fund's  operating  and
management expenses.

     We continue to be pleasantly  surprised  with the strength of your fund and
the index that it tracks.  As we noted in our last report to you,  such  lengthy
periods of stock market prosperity are rare. It is also rare,  however,  for the
U.S. economy to combine steady economic growth,  high employment,  and declining
inflation,  as was the  case in  1997.  U.S.  large-cap  stocks  also  performed
impressively,  posting  heady  earnings  growth  despite  the  maturity of their
businesses.  These  factors  have been  fueling  the S&P 500's  engine  for many
quarters now.

     Nonetheless,  the exceptionally low volatility that had characterized  this
advance  disappeared  in 1997,  and market  gyrations  returned  to  more-normal
levels.  In particular,  one-day market  movements of more than 1% were far more
common  than in recent  years.  This is a trend we expect  will  continue in the
coming year.

YEAR-END DISTRIBUTIONS

     Your  fund's  directors  declared a fourth  quarter  dividend  of $0.09 per
share,  a short-term  capital gain of $0.05 per share,  and a long-term  capital
gain of $0.11  per  share.  These  distributions  were  paid on  December  30 to
shareholders  of record on December 26. You should already have received a check
or  statement  reflecting  these  distributions,  as well as your form  1099-DIV
reporting them for tax purposes.

MARKET REVIEW

     The bulk of this  year's  33.36%  gain by the S&P 500 came during the first
half,  when news of the economy and corporate  earnings was  excellent.  A March
interest rate hike by the Federal  Reserve slowed investor  enthusiasm,  but any
concerns about rising interest rates were quickly forgotten.  Between the end of
April and the end of July, the index posted a sweeping 19.66% return.
<PAGE>

     Although the past six months have also been rewarding for investors,  gains
have been more sporadic.  The index corrected  modestly in August in the wake of
earnings  disappointments  by such major corporations as COCA-COLA and PROCTER &
GAMBLE.   Then,  in  mid-October,   several  major  Southeast  Asian  currencies
collapsed,  setting the stage for steep  global stock  market  declines.  In one
week,  between  October  21 and 27,  the S&P 500 lost  nearly  10% of its value.
Although it later recovered  those losses,  aftershocks of the event rippled for
the rest of the year and into 1998.  Investors  found it difficult to ignore the
implications of the currency crisis:  many U.S. large-cap companies have come to
rely on Southeast  Asian labor to help make their  products and Southeast  Asian
consumers to help buy them.

================================================================================
Operational Changes to Your Fund
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

     On January 30, the Equity Index Fund's name will change to the Equity Index
500 Fund. This change occurs in conjunction  with the introduction of two new T.
Rowe Price index funds  focusing on different  market  benchmarks.  The new name
will help shareholders to distinguish between this fund and the new funds, Total
Equity  Market Index Fund and Extended  Equity  Market Index Fund.  If you would
like information  about these new funds,  please call T. Rowe Price to request a
prospectus. Read it carefully before investing.

     In addition, as of September 5, 1997, the fund ceased to charge a quarterly
account  maintenance  fee to  accounts  of at least  $10,000.  Please  note that
accounts with balances less than $10,000 will still be charged a $2.50 quarterly
account maintenance fee.

     This updates your fund prospectus dated May 1, 1997.
================================================================================

     Nonetheless,   for  the  period  as  a  whole,   large-cap  stocks  sharply
outperformed smaller issues, even within the index. In an important  second-half
trend,  traditional  value  stocks  significantly  surpassed  their growth stock
counterparts.  The more modest multiples of value stocks-and,  not infrequently,
an  income  component-helped  draw  investor  attention  to them  as  volatility
increased.  At the same time,  exposure to foreign  markets  combined  with high
multiples put a damper on the performance of growth stocks.

PORTFOLIO REVIEW

     The S&P  500's  gains  for the year were  broad-based,  with  most  sectors
participating.  Among the best  performers were  financials,  as these companies
posted  strong  earnings  and enjoyed a  favorable  interest  rate  environment.
Consolidation  within the financial services industry,  led by TRAVELERS GROUP'S
acquisition of SALOMON BROTHERS, also spurred gains.
<PAGE>

     Consumer services remained strong despite worries about sluggish  Christmas
sales at year-end.  Large retailers like WAL-MART and HOME DEPOT performed well.
A healthy  economic  environment  also helped media  stocks  rebound from recent
weakness, with COMCAST and CBS among the significant beneficiaries.

     For the first time in several  years,  utility  stocks  posted  outstanding
gains for the six-month period, as global market volatility encouraged investors
to seek refuge in conservative stocks. Electric utilities did especially well in
the second  half.  The stable  U.S.  economy  combined  with the turmoil in Asia
suggested a very low probability  that interest rates would  increase-good  news
for these income-paying, interest rate-sensitive issues. Telephone stocks posted
good  results  as well,  emerging  stronger  than many had  anticipated  from an
uncertain  competitive  landscape and a period of strict  regulation.  AT&T, for
example,  became the top contributor to fund performance in the second half. The
market reacted approvingly toward the company's new management team.

     Not all sectors were in the black, however.  Most notably,  basic materials
stocks  were harmed  this year when the bottom  fell out of gold  prices.  Large
technology  stocks like IBM,  MICROSOFT,  and INTEL were also weak in the second
half,  although they held up considerably  better than smaller  companies in the
technology sector.

     Of the 30  changes  to the S&P 500's  composition  this  year,  24 were the
result of mergers and acquisitions.  Merger and acquisition  activity rose along
with the market, as acquisitive  companies used their own highly valued stock as
currency  in these  transactions.  In  comparison,  during the 1980s,  an active
merger and acquisition  period, an average of 25 changes a year were made to the
S&P 500.

================================================================================
Returns by Market Sector
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Periods Ended 12/31/97                                    6 Months     12 Months
Utilities ..........................................         25.3%         32.2%
Consumer Services ..................................         19.4          43.1
Financial ..........................................         19.1          43.9
Consumer Cyclicals .................................         15.2          27.3
Miscellaneous ......................................         11.4          33.1
Business Services and Transportation ...............          9.4          24.5
Health Care ........................................          9.2          43.2
Energy .............................................          5.9          23.9
Consumer Nondurables ...............................          5.1          26.6
Capital Equipment ..................................          4.3          33.9
Technology .........................................          3.5          24.5
Process Industries .................................         -0.6          16.6
Basic Materials ....................................         -20.8          4.2
================================================================================
<PAGE>

     After a quiet  first  half,  there  were 22 new names in the S&P 500 in the
second  half,  including  some that  resulted  from mergers and others that were
outright additions. Eight of the changes were from the financial services sector
and included a large thrift,  WASHINGTON MUTUAL,  that acquired a former S&P 500
company,  GREAT WESTERN  FINANCIAL,  in early July. Also, four  banks-HUNTINGTON
BANCSHARES,  STATE STREET, BB&T, and SYNOVUS  FINANCIAL-were added. Rounding out
the additions  were three  insurance  companies:  SUNAMERICA,  PROGRESSIVE,  and
CINCINNATI FINANCIAL.  These additions,  combined with strong performance,  have
boosted the financial  sector's  representation  in the S&P 500 by more than two
percentage points since the beginning of the year.

     Corporate  restructurings resulted in two new names in the S&P 500. GENERAL
INSTRUMENT,  which had been in the index,  split into three  companies  in July.
Only one of them,  NEXTLEVEL  SYSTEMS,  a supplier of  communications  products,
remained.  In October,  PEPSICO spun off its fast-food  business,  TRICON GLOBAL
RESTAURANTS, which was added to the index.

     Four new companies in the S&P 500 were new  incarnations of familiar names.
The largest, CENDANT,  resulted from the merger of two S&P 500 companies-HFS,  a
hotel  franchiser,   real  estate  broker,   and  car  rental  agency,  and  CUC
INTERNATIONAL,  a  membership-based  consumer services  company-in an attempt to
combine CUC's  consumers  with HFS's  services.  Finally,  two S&P 500 companies
merged with  companies  outside the index:  JAMES RIVER with Fort Howard to form
FORT JAMES, a  manufacturer  of paper  products,  and OHIO EDISON with Centerior
Energy to form FIRSTENERGY, a new utility for Ohio and western Pennsylvania.

     The  remaining   additions  to  the  index  represented  a  wide  range  of
industries,  including two energy companies  (ANADARKO PETROLEUM and APACHE) and
two technology companies (KLA-TENCOR,  a supplier of process-control systems for
the semiconductor  industry,  and HBO, a provider of information  systems to the
health care industry). Rounding out the group are OWENS-ILLINOIS, a manufacturer
of containers and packaging  products;  MIRAGE  RESORTS,  a large  developer and
operator of casino-hotels;  CLEAR CHANNEL COMMUNICATIONS, a radio and television
station owner; and OMNICOM, an advertising agency.

OUTLOOK

     The U.S. has been  experiencing  superb economic and corporate  conditions,
and at this time rising interest rates seem unlikely.  However, we do not expect
another  year like the past few.  Although  we see no clear signs of a change of
course for the market,  a number of minor trends could affect 1998 returns.  For
example,  a weakened  Southeast  Asia could  dampen  our  export  markets,  thus
restraining the growth of corporate profits. In addition, the valuations of U.S.
stocks,  and  particularly  U.S.  large-caps,  fully  reflect the good  economic
conditions, leaving stocks vulnerable to disappointing news.

     Historically,  equities have provided the best long-term  returns among all
asset  classes,  and we expect this to remain true in the  future.  However,  we
would not be  surprised  if returns  were more modest  than in the past,  and if
market volatility stayed at current levels.
<PAGE>

Respectfully submitted,

/s/

Richard T. Whitney
President and Chairman of the Investment Advisory Committee

/s/

Kristen F. Culp
Executive Vice President
January 22, 1998
<PAGE>



T. Rowe Price Equity Index Fund
================================================================================
The Evolving S&P 500 Index
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Changes in the Index in 1997

ADDITIONS                                       DELETIONS
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Adobe Systems                                   Alexander & Alexander          
Ameren                                          Amdahl                         
Anadarko Petroleum                              Beverly Enterprises            
Apache                                          Boatmen's Bancshares           
BB&T                                            Conrail                        
Cardinal Health                                 CUC International              
Cendant                                         ENSERCH                        
Charles Schwab                                  Fleming Companies              
Cincinnati Financial                            General Instrument             
Clear Channel Communications                    Giddings & Lewis               
Conseco                                         Great Western Financial        
Countrywide Credit                              HFS                            
Equifax                                         Intergraph                     
FirstEnergy                                     James River     
Fort James                                      Louisiana Land & Exploration   
HBO                                             McDonnell Douglas              
HealthSouth                                     Morgan Stanley Group           
Huntington Bancshares                           Noram Energy                   
KLA-Tencor                                      NYNEX                          
Mirage Resorts                                  Ohio Edison                    
NextLevel Systems                               Pacific Telesis                
Omnicom                                         Panenergy                      
Owens-Illinois                                  Salomon                        
Parametric Technology                           Santa Fe Energy Resources      
Progressive                                     Santa Fe Pacific Gold          
State Street                                    Stride Rite                    
Sunamerica                                      Tandem Computers               
Synovus Financial                               Union Electric                 
Tricon Global Restaurants                       U.S. Bancorp Oregon            
Washington Mutual                               USLIFE                         
================================================================================
<PAGE>


T. Rowe Price Equity Index Fund
================================================================================
Portfolio Highlights
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

TWENTY-FIVE LARGEST HOLDINGS 
                                                                      Percent of
                                                                      Net Assets
                                                                        12/31/97
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
GE ..........................................................               3.1%
Coca-Cola ...................................................               2.1
Microsoft ...................................................               2.0
Exxon .......................................................               2.0
Merck .......................................................               1.7
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Royal Dutch Petroleum .......................................               1.5
Intel .......................................................               1.5
Philip Morris ...............................................               1.4
Procter & Gamble ............................................               1.4
IBM .........................................................               1.3
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AT&T ........................................................               1.3
Pfizer ......................................................               1.3
Bristol-Myers Squibb ........................................               1.2
Johnson & Johnson ...........................................               1.2
Wal-Mart ....................................................               1.2
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Eli Lilly ...................................................               1.0
American International Group ................................               1.0
Bell Atlantic ...............................................               0.9
DuPont ......................................................               0.9
SBC Communications ..........................................               0.9
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Disney ......................................................               0.9
Hewlett-Packard .............................................               0.8
Travelers Group .............................................               0.8
Fannie Mae ..................................................               0.8
Ford Motor ..................................................               0.8
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total .......................................................              33.0%
================================================================================
<PAGE>


T. Rowe Price Equity Index Fund
================================================================================
Portfolio Highlights

CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE CHANGE IN NET ASSET VALUE PER SHARE

6 Months Ended 12/31/97
Ten Best Contributors   
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
AT&T ..................................................................   15c
GE ....................................................................    9
Pfizer ................................................................    7
Eli Lilly .............................................................    6
IBM ...................................................................    5
Fannie Mae ............................................................    5
Wal-Mart ..............................................................    5
Ford Motor ............................................................    4
Bristol-Myers Squibb ..................................................    4
Disney ................................................................    4
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total .................................................................   64c

Ten Worst Contributors
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Motorola ..............................................................   -4c
Oracle ................................................................    4
3M ....................................................................    3
Columbia/HCA Healthcare ...............................................    2
First Data ............................................................    2
Eastman Kodak .........................................................    2
Boeing ................................................................    2
NIKE ..................................................................    2
Aetna .................................................................    2
Corning ...............................................................    1
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total .................................................................  -24c
<PAGE>

12 Months Ended 12/31/97
Ten Best Contributors
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
GE ....................................................................   27c
Microsoft .............................................................   20
Pfizer ................................................................   15
Bristol-Myers Squibb ..................................................   13
Wal-Mart ..............................................................   13
Eli Lilly .............................................................   12
Procter & Gamble ......................................................   12
Coca-Cola .............................................................   12
AT&T ..................................................................   11
Merck .................................................................   11
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total .................................................................  146c

Ten Worst Contributors
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
3Com ..................................................................   -3c
Columbia/HCA Healthcare ...............................................    3
Eastman Kodak .........................................................    2
NIKE ..................................................................    2
Boeing ................................................................    2
Oracle ................................................................    2
Seagate Technology ....................................................    2
Barrick Gold ..........................................................    1
First Data ............................................................    1
KLA-Tencor ............................................................    1
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total .................................................................   -19c
================================================================================
<PAGE>

T. Rowe Price Equity Index Fund
================================================================================
Performance Comparison
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

     This chart shows the value of a hypothetical $10,000 investment in the fund
over the past 10 fiscal  year  periods or since  inception  (for  funds  lacking
10-year  records).  The result is compared with a broad-based  average or index.
The index return does not reflect  expenses,  which have been  deducted from the
fund's return.

[Equity Index Fund SEC graph shown here]

================================================================================
Average Annual Compound Total Return
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

     This table shows how the fund would have  performed each year if its actual
(or  cumulative)  returns  for the  periods  shown had been earned at a constant
rate.

================================================================================
                                                               Since   Inception
Periods Ended 12/31/97     1 Year    3 Years    6 Years    Inception        Date
Equity Index Fund          32.87%     30.75%     19.83%       17.23%     3/30/90

     Investment  return and principal value represent past  performance and will
vary. Shares may be worth more or less at redemption than at original purchase.
================================================================================
<PAGE>

<TABLE>
T. Rowe Price Equity Index Fund
================================================================================
                                           For a share outstanding throughout each period
====================================================================================================================================
Financial Highlights
<CAPTION>

                                                        Year
                                                       Ended
                                                     12/31/97           12/31/96         12/31/95        12/31/94        12/31/93
<S>                                                       <C>                <C>              <C>             <C>             <C>
NET ASSET VALUE
Beginning of period ........................      $     20.34          $   17.21          $ 13.09         $ 13.48         $ 12.63
Investment activities
        Net investment income ..............             0.35**             0.38**           0.39*           0.36*           0.32*
        Net realized and
        unrealized gain (loss) .............             6.28               3.47             4.43           (0.23)           0.86
        Total from
        investment activities ..............             6.63               3.85             4.82            0.13            1.18
Distributions
        Net investment income ..............            (0.34)             (0.38)           (0.40)          (0.36)          (0.32)
        Net realized gain ..................            (0.25)             (0.34)           (0.30)          (0.09)          (0.01)
        In excess of net
        realized gain ......................               --                 --               --           (0.07)             --
        Total distributions ................            (0.59)             (0.72)           (0.70)          (0.52)          (0.33)
NET ASSET VALUE
End of period ..............................      $     26.38          $   20.34          $ 17.21         $ 13.09         $ 13.48
Ratios/Supplemental Data
Total return ...............................            32.87%**           22.65%**         37.16%*          1.01%*          9.42%*
Ratio of expenses to
average net assets .........................             0.40%**            0.40%**          0.45%*          0.45%*          0.45%*
Ratio of net investment
income to average
net assets .................................             1.49%**            2.05%**          2.54%*          2.73%*          2.40%*
Portfolio turnover rate ....................              0.7%               1.3%             1.3%            1.3%            0.8%
Average commission
rate paid ..................................      $    0.0152          $  0.0183               --              --              --
Net assets, end of period
(in millions) ..............................      $     1,908          $     808          $   457         $   270         $   167
====================================================================================================================================
<FN>
*    Excludes  expenses in excess of a 0.45%  voluntary  expense  limitation  in
     effect through 12/31/95.
**   Excludes  expenses in excess of a 0.40%  voluntary  expense  limitation  in
     effect through 12/31/97.
</FN>
</TABLE>

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements. 
<PAGE>


T. Rowe Price Equity Index Fund
================================================================================
                                                               December 31, 1997
================================================================================
Statement of Net Assets
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                           Shares/Par      Value
                                                                    In thousands

COMMON STOCKS  98.1%
INDUSTRIAL  72.7%
GE ...............................................       812,822 $        59,641
Coca-Cola ........................................       612,201          40,788
Microsoft * ......................................       297,066          38,387
Exxon ............................................       611,923          37,442
Merck ............................................       297,401          31,599
Royal Dutch Petroleum ADR ........................       533,674          28,918
Intel ............................................       405,621          28,482
Philip Morris ....................................       603,713          27,356
Procter & Gamble .................................       332,994          26,577
IBM ..............................................       241,592          25,261
AT&T .............................................       401,402          24,586
Pfizer ...........................................       320,343          23,886
Bristol-Myers Squibb .............................       246,928          23,366
Johnson & Johnson ................................       334,972          22,066
Wal-Mart .........................................       556,721          21,956
Eli Lilly ........................................       275,332          19,170
DuPont ...........................................       281,644          16,916
Disney ...........................................       168,155          16,658
Hewlett-Packard ..................................       257,185          16,074
Ford Motor .......................................       296,327          14,427
Gillette .........................................       139,023          13,963
Mobil ............................................       193,229          13,949
Cisco Systems * ..................................       248,713          13,881
PepsiCo ..........................................       375,476          13,681
Lucent Technologies ..............................       159,932          12,775
Abbott Laboratories ..............................       190,592          12,496
Chevron ..........................................       162,237          12,492
American Home Products ...........................       161,657          12,367
Boeing ...........................................       248,834          12,177
Schering-Plough ..................................       181,501          11,276
GM ...............................................       178,318          10,811
Home Depot .......................................       181,395          10,680
COMPAQ Computer ..................................       188,707          10,650
Amoco ............................................       121,249          10,321
Unilever N.V. ADR ................................       159,638           9,967
Schlumberger .....................................       123,720           9,959
Time Warner ......................................       139,789           8,667
Motorola .........................................       147,999           8,445
Warner-Lambert ...................................        68,082           8,442
3M ...............................................       101,785           8,353
<PAGE>

McDonald's .......................................       170,268        $  8,130
Texaco ...........................................       137,003           7,450
MCI ..............................................       172,167           7,376
Computer Associates ..............................       135,368           7,158
WorldCom .........................................       224,648           6,803
Dell Computer * ..................................        80,845           6,794
Cendant * ........................................       197,223           6,780
Kimberly-Clark ...................................       136,070           6,710
Sara Lee .........................................       118,893           6,695
Campbell .........................................       112,368           6,531
Atlantic Richfield ...............................        79,695           6,386
Monsanto .........................................       148,709           6,246
Sprint ...........................................       106,285           6,231
Emerson Electric .................................       109,550           6,183
Medtronic ........................................       116,923           6,117
Tyco International ...............................       132,858           5,987
Xerox ............................................        80,646           5,953
Chrysler .........................................       165,313           5,817
Northern Telecom .................................        64,893           5,775
Dow Chemical .....................................        56,088           5,693
AlliedSignal .....................................       139,634           5,437
Oracle * .........................................       243,743           5,431
Colgate-Palmolive ................................        73,284           5,386
Anheuser-Busch ...................................       121,456           5,344
AirTouch Communications * ........................       125,370           5,211
CBS ..............................................       174,417           5,134
Kellogg ..........................................       101,490           5,036
Eastman Kodak ....................................        80,410           4,890
Columbia/HCA Healthcare ..........................       161,114           4,773
Lockheed Martin ..................................        48,053           4,733
Heinz ............................................        90,592           4,603
Pharmacia & Upjohn ...............................       124,277           4,552
Caterpillar ......................................        91,864           4,461
Automatic Data Processing ........................        72,558           4,453
Texas Instruments ................................        97,468           4,386
Sears ............................................        96,541           4,368
Gannett ..........................................        70,216           4,340
U S WEST Media * .................................       148,943           4,301
United Technologies ..............................        57,939           4,219
ConAgra ..........................................       118,024           3,873
Walgreen .........................................       123,192           3,865
CPC International ................................        35,772           3,854
Illinois Tool Works ..............................        62,069           3,732
J.C. Penney ......................................        61,588           3,715
Sun Microsystems * ...............................        92,556           3,696
Raytheon (Class B) ...............................        72,451           3,659
Viacom (Class B) * ...............................        87,858           3,641
Dayton Hudson ....................................        53,809           3,632
Deere ............................................        62,178           3,626
The Gap ..........................................       100,408           3,558
Baxter International .............................        70,289           3,545
Tele-Communications (Class A) * ..................       125,125           3,492
<PAGE>

Amgen ............................................        64,302        $  3,480
EMC * ............................................       124,029           3,403
Halliburton ......................................        64,605           3,355
Pitney Bowes .....................................        36,016           3,239
International Paper ..............................        74,349           3,206
First Data .......................................       108,487           3,173
Marsh & McLennan .................................        42,277           3,152
Phillips Petroleum ...............................        64,554           3,139
Waste Management .................................       112,572           3,096
Alcoa ............................................        43,054           3,030
May Department Stores ............................        56,865           2,996
Archer Daniels Midland ...........................       137,897           2,991
3Com * ...........................................        85,340           2,979
Seagram ..........................................        91,157           2,946
Albertson's ......................................        60,618           2,872
NIKE .............................................        73,058           2,868
General Mills ....................................        39,467           2,827
CVS ..............................................        42,596           2,729
Mattel ...........................................        72,945           2,717
Rockwell International ...........................        51,899           2,712
Comcast (Class A Special) ........................        85,539           2,697
HealthSouth * ....................................        96,986           2,691
Applied Materials * ..............................        89,365           2,689
Textron ..........................................        40,844           2,553
PPG Industries ...................................        43,926           2,509
Tenet Healthcare * ...............................        75,158           2,490
Goodyear Tire & Rubber ...........................        38,852           2,472
Occidental Petroleum .............................        84,017           2,463
Weyerhaeuser .....................................        49,823           2,444
Ralston Purina ...................................        25,998           2,416
ITT * ............................................        29,139           2,415
Tellabs * ........................................        45,626           2,408
Aon ..............................................        40,747           2,389
USX-Marathon .....................................        70,659           2,385
HBO ..............................................        49,553           2,377
Unocal ...........................................        60,505           2,348
Guidant ..........................................        37,360           2,326
Kroger * .........................................        62,585           2,312
Costco Companies * ...............................        51,812           2,311
Wrigley ..........................................        28,955           2,304
United HealthCare ................................        46,355           2,303
Service Corp. International ......................        62,043           2,292
AMP ..............................................        54,034           2,269
Toys "R" Us * ....................................        71,893           2,260
Hershey Foods ....................................        36,130           2,238
Air Products and Chemicals .......................        27,086           2,228
Honeywell ........................................        32,359           2,217
Federated Department Stores * ....................        51,372           2,212
Boston Scientific * ..............................        47,997           2,202
Marriott International ...........................        31,716           2,196
Corning ..........................................        56,682           2,104
<PAGE>

Masco ............................................        40,831        $  2,077
Pioneer Hi-Bred ..................................        19,277           2,067
Lowes ............................................        43,191           2,060
Cardinal Health ..................................        27,058           2,033
Clorox ...........................................        25,689           2,031
Fort James .......................................        52,224           1,998
Avon .............................................        32,203           1,976
Dover ............................................        54,268           1,960
Clear Channel Communications * ...................        24,574           1,952
Burlington Resources .............................        42,878           1,921
Sysco ............................................        42,074           1,917
Hilton ...........................................        63,224           1,881
Tribune ..........................................        30,085           1,873
Browning-Ferris ..................................        50,314           1,862
Dresser Industries ...............................        43,955           1,843
Northrop Grumman .................................        16,008           1,841
Quaker Oats ......................................        34,468           1,818
Baker Hughes .....................................        41,391           1,806
Rite Aid .........................................        30,611           1,796
McGraw-Hill ......................................        24,205           1,791
Praxair ..........................................        39,648           1,784
Cognizant ........................................        39,622           1,766
Eaton ............................................        19,384           1,730
Newell ...........................................        40,269           1,711
Barrick Gold .....................................        91,578           1,706
The Limited ......................................        66,628           1,699
Thermo Electron * ................................        38,069           1,694
Tenneco ..........................................        42,376           1,674
Ingersoll-Rand ...................................        41,317           1,673
UST ..............................................        44,548           1,646
Computer Sciences * ..............................        19,411           1,621
Crown Cork & Seal ................................        32,226           1,615
Winn-Dixie .......................................        36,683           1,603
New York Times (Class A) .........................        24,145           1,597
TRW ..............................................        29,795           1,590
Alcan Aluminum ...................................        56,767           1,568
Interpublic Group ................................        31,434           1,566
Fortune Brands ...................................        41,913           1,553
Parametric Technology * ..........................        32,154           1,521
Becton, Dickinson ................................        30,330           1,517
Union Pacific Resources ..........................        62,127           1,507
Cooper Industries ................................        30,625           1,501
W. R. Grace ......................................        18,372           1,478
Genuine Parts ....................................        43,074           1,462
Georgia-Pacific ..................................        23,839           1,448
TJX ..............................................        41,968           1,443
V. F .............................................        31,211           1,434
Times Mirror (Class A) ...........................        23,254           1,430
Rohm & Haas ......................................        14,705           1,408
Micron Technology * ..............................        53,579           1,393
Bay Networks * ...................................        54,451           1,392
<PAGE>

American Stores ..................................        67,351        $  1,385
Digital Equipment * ..............................        37,342           1,382
Kmart * ..........................................       119,192           1,378
R.R. Donnelly ....................................        36,843           1,372
International Flavours & Fragrances ..............        26,406           1,360
General Dynamics .................................        15,679           1,355
Dun & Bradstreet .................................        43,240           1,338
Union Carbide ....................................        30,053           1,290
Owens-Illinois * .................................        33,892           1,286
Equifax ..........................................        36,076           1,278
Dow Jones ........................................        23,793           1,277
Hercules .........................................        25,224           1,263
Parker Hannifin ..................................        27,075           1,242
Dana .............................................        25,568           1,214
Amerada Hess .....................................        21,968           1,206
Sherwin-Williams .................................        43,201           1,199
Newmont Mining ...................................        40,042           1,176
W. W. Grainger ...................................        11,985           1,165
Nordstrom ........................................        19,002           1,145
Seagate Technology * .............................        59,363           1,143
Morton International .............................        33,221           1,142
Allegheny Teledyne ...............................        44,021           1,139
Eastman Chemical .................................        18,930           1,128
Knight-Ridder ....................................        21,508           1,118
H&R Block ........................................        24,919           1,117
Avery Dennison ...................................        24,616           1,102
Case .............................................        18,180           1,099
AutoZone * .......................................        37,874           1,098
Reynolds Metals ..................................        18,067           1,084
Laidlaw ..........................................        79,254           1,080
Nucor ............................................        22,323           1,078
National Semiconductor * .........................        41,551           1,078
Champion International ...........................        23,590           1,069
Stanley Works ....................................        22,453           1,060
Tricon Global Restaurants * ......................        36,297           1,055
Ashland ..........................................        19,267           1,034
PACCAR ...........................................        19,614           1,031
Western Atlas ....................................        13,864           1,026
Tandy ............................................        26,070           1,005
Mirage Resorts * .................................        43,800             996
Whirlpool ........................................        17,875             983
Hasbro ...........................................        31,158             981
Union Camp .......................................        18,146             974
Sigma Aldrich ....................................        24,314             963
Johnson Controls .................................        20,015             956
Dillard Department Stores ........................        26,775             944
Black & Decker ...................................        23,980             937
Maytag ...........................................        25,065             935
Harcourt General .................................        17,064             934
Brown-Forman (Class B) ...........................        16,755             926
Rubbermaid .......................................        36,575             914
<PAGE>

Omnicom ..........................................        21,400        $    907
Willamette Industries ............................        28,168             907
Raychem ..........................................        20,968             903
Anadarko Petroleum ...............................        14,867             902
Ikon Office Solutions ............................        32,046             901
Harris ...........................................        19,613             900
ITT Industries ...................................        28,649             899
Phelps Dodge .....................................        14,413             897
Ecolab ...........................................        15,980             886
Ceridian * .......................................        19,170             878
KLA-Tencor * .....................................        22,234             858
Circuit City Stores ..............................        23,916             851
Humana * .........................................        38,839             806
Apache ...........................................        22,452             787
Kerr-McGee .......................................        12,132             768
Westvaco .........................................        24,134             759
Sun Company ......................................        18,007             757
B. F. Goodrich ...................................        18,231             755
Freeport McMoRan Copper & Gold (Class B) .........        47,908             755
Pennzoil .........................................        11,252             752
Wendys ...........................................        31,017             746
Perkin-Elmer .....................................        10,475             744
Brunswick ........................................        24,547             744
Fluor ............................................        19,828             741
Deluxe Corp. .....................................        21,444             740
Liz Claiborne ....................................        17,412             728
Mallinkrodt ......................................        19,127             727
Placer Dome ......................................        57,043             724
Biomet ...........................................        27,899             713
Supervalu ........................................        16,950             710
Mead .............................................        25,298             708
DSC Communications * .............................        29,554             707
Temple-Inland ....................................        13,436             703
St. Jude Medical * ...............................        23,007             702
Armstrong World ..................................         9,371             700
Adobe Systems ....................................        16,972             699
American Greetings (Class A) .....................        17,775             696
WoolWorth * ......................................        34,122             695
Inco .............................................        40,495             688
Nalco Chemical ...................................        17,129             678
USX-U.S. Steel ...................................        21,665             677
NextLevel Systems * ..............................        37,732             674
LSI Logic * ......................................        34,126             674
Thomas & Betts ...................................        13,892             656
FMC * ............................................         9,749             656
Great Lakes Chemical .............................        14,506             651
Whitman ..........................................        24,928             650
Snap-On ..........................................        14,663             640
ALZA (Class A) * .................................        20,066             638
Novell * .........................................        84,326             630
Rowan * ..........................................        20,543             627
<PAGE>

Oryx Energy * ....................................        24,422        $    623
Pall .............................................        29,803             617
Engelhard ........................................        35,400             615
Silicon Graphics * ...............................        47,518             591
Advanced Micro Devices * .........................        32,821             589
Unisys * .........................................        42,150             585
Mercantile Stores ................................         9,564             582
Bemis ............................................        13,156             580
United States Surgical ...........................        19,597             574
Echlin ...........................................        15,707             568
Cummins Engine ...................................         9,617             568
Manor Care .......................................        16,170             566
Bausch & Lomb ....................................        14,165             561
Raytheon (Class A) ...............................        11,371             561
Cabletron Systems * ..............................        37,206             558
National Service Industries ......................        11,144             552
Andrew * .........................................        22,882             548
Allergan .........................................        16,183             543
Giant Food (Class A) .............................        16,026             540
Polaroid .........................................        10,828             527
King World Productions ...........................         9,070             524
Crane ............................................        11,715             508
Timken ...........................................        14,414             495
General Signal ...................................        11,654             492
Louisiana Pacific ................................        25,856             491
McDermott International ..........................        13,393             491
Harrah's Entertainment * .........................        25,522             482
Cooper Tire ......................................        19,734             481
Tektronix ........................................        11,913             473
Navistar * .......................................        18,805             467
Fruit of the Loom (Class A) * ....................        18,085             463
Darden Restaurants ...............................        35,944             449
Centex ...........................................         7,101             447
Meredith .........................................        12,519             447
Helmerich & Payne ................................         6,391             434
Owens Corning ....................................        12,591             430
Harnischfeger ....................................        12,146             429
Alberto Culver ...................................        13,010             417
Shared Medical Systems ...........................         6,275             414
Autodesk .........................................        11,046             407
Apple Computer * .................................        31,036             406
Tupperware .......................................        14,561             406
C. R. Bard .......................................        12,936             405
Boise Cascade ....................................        13,131             397
Worthington Industries ...........................        23,929             393
Reebok * .........................................        13,287             383
Safety-Kleen .....................................        13,907             382
Millipore ........................................        10,839             368
Pep Boys .........................................        15,196             363
Longs Drug Stores ................................        11,155             358
Cyprus Amax Minerals .............................        23,075             355
<PAGE>

Aeroquip-Vickers .................................         6,963        $    342
Fleetwood ........................................         7,893             335
Homestake Mining .................................        36,663             325
Moore ............................................        21,512             325
Coors (Class B) ..................................         9,450             314
Scientific-Atlanta ...............................        18,440             309
Ball .............................................         8,544             302
Briggs & Stratton ................................         6,196             301
Battle Mountain Gold (Class A) ...................        51,068             300
Potlatch .........................................         6,690             288
Cincinnati Milacron ..............................        10,850             281
Foster Wheeler ...................................        10,236             277
A & P ............................................         8,892             264
ASARCO ...........................................        11,426             256
EG&G .............................................        12,290             256
NACCO Industries (Class A) .......................         2,302             247
Stone Container * ................................        22,590             236
Bethlehem Steel * ................................        27,280             235
Pulte ............................................         5,414             226
Russell ..........................................         8,177             217
Data General * ...................................        12,050             210
Springs Industries ...............................         4,002             208
Kaufman & Broad ..................................         8,679             195
Jostens ..........................................         8,149             188
Inland Steel Industries ..........................        10,398             178
John H. Harland ..................................         8,061             169
Armco * ..........................................        23,892             118
Charming Shoppes * ...............................        24,119             112
Echo Bay Mines * .................................        29,376              72
Total Industrial .................................                     1,388,057

UTILITIES  7.5%
Bell Atlantic ....................................       193,018          17,565
SBC Communications ...............................       227,690          16,678
BellSouth ........................................       247,047          13,912
GTE ..............................................       237,685          12,419
Ameritech ........................................       136,433          10,983
U S WEST Communications ..........................       120,048           5,417
Duke Energy ......................................        88,662           4,910
Southern Company .................................       167,554           4,335
PG&E .............................................       107,073           3,259
Enron ............................................        78,098           3,246
FPL Group ........................................        45,330           2,683
Edison International .............................        96,986           2,637
Texas Utilities ..................................        60,731           2,524
American Electric Power ..........................        46,889           2,421
Consolidated Edison ..............................        57,728           2,367
Williams Companies ...............................        79,012           2,242
Houston Industries ...............................        77,380           2,065
PacifiCorp .......................................        72,447           1,979
Dominion Resources ...............................        45,529           1,938
<PAGE>

ALLTEL ...........................................        46,360        $  1,904
Entergy ..........................................        59,681           1,787
Public Service Enterprise ........................        56,289           1,784
Unicom ...........................................        53,837           1,655
Coastal ..........................................        26,657           1,651
Carolina Power & Light ...........................        38,159           1,619
FirstEnergy ......................................        55,492           1,609
CINergy ..........................................        39,549           1,515
Central and South West ...........................        52,948           1,433
Consolidated Natural Gas .........................        23,465           1,420
PECO Energy ......................................        56,208           1,363
GPU ..............................................        29,420           1,239
BGE ..............................................        35,728           1,217
DTE Energy .......................................        34,802           1,207
Union Electric ...................................        25,448           1,101
Columbia Gas System ..............................        13,874           1,090
Northern States Power ............................        18,679           1,088
PP&L Resources ...................................        42,542           1,018
Frontier .........................................        40,742             980
Sonat ............................................        21,216             971
Pacific Enterprises ..............................        20,409             768
NICOR ............................................        11,531             486
Niagara Mohawk * .................................        36,951             388
ONEOK ............................................         8,697             351
Peoples Energy ...................................         8,510             335
Eastern Enterprises ..............................         4,380             197
Total Utilities .................................                        143,756

FINANCIAL  16.6%
American International Group .....................       172,915          18,805
Travelers Group ..................................       284,721          15,339
Fannie Mae .......................................       264,353          15,085
Citicorp .........................................       113,245          14,318
BankAmerica ......................................       172,683          12,606
Chase Manhattan ..................................       105,004          11,498
NationsBank ......................................       174,683          10,623
American Express .................................       114,761          10,242
Allstate .........................................       107,107           9,733
Morgan Stanley Dean Witter Discover ..............       146,146           8,641
First Union ......................................       156,625           8,027
BANC ONE .........................................       146,940           7,981
Wells Fargo ......................................        21,521           7,305
Freddie Mac ......................................       173,993           7,297
Norwest ..........................................       187,233           7,232
U.S. Bancorp .....................................        60,660           6,790
First Chicago NBD ................................        72,992           6,095
Merrill Lynch ....................................        82,821           6,041
Bank of New York .................................        94,479           5,462
J. P. Morgan .....................................        43,951           4,961
Fleet Financial Group ............................        61,750           4,627
PNC Bank .........................................        75,877           4,330
<PAGE>

General Re .......................................        19,667        $  4,169
Wachovia .........................................        50,758           4,118
Washington Mutual ................................        63,297           4,037
CoreStates Financial .............................        49,909           3,996
KeyCorp ..........................................        54,761           3,878
Mellon Bank ......................................        62,783           3,806
SunTrust .........................................        52,220           3,727
National City ....................................        53,824           3,539
Barnett Banks ....................................        48,420           3,480
Household International ..........................        26,606           3,394
BankBoston .......................................        36,009           3,383
MBNA .............................................       123,182           3,364
American General .................................        61,426           3,321
Chubb ............................................        41,893           3,168
CIGNA ............................................        18,196           3,149
Fifth Third Bancorp ..............................        38,353           3,133
Loews ............................................        28,490           3,024
Charles Schwab ...................................        65,805           2,760
Bankers Trust New York ...........................        24,388           2,742
Hartford Financial Services ......................        29,146           2,727
Aetna ............................................        36,786           2,596
Comerica .........................................        26,146           2,360
State Street .....................................        39,049           2,272
Progressive ......................................        18,002           2,158
BB&T .............................................        33,483           2,145
Conseco ..........................................        46,271           2,102
Sunamerica .......................................        48,195           2,060
Lincoln National .................................        25,755           2,012
UNUM .............................................        35,132           1,910
MGIC Investment ..................................        27,695           1,842
Huntington Bancshares ............................        47,734           1,715
St. Paul Companies ...............................        20,872           1,713
SAFECO ...........................................        35,111           1,709
Transamerica .....................................        15,616           1,663
H. F. Ahmanson ...................................        24,367           1,631
Republic New York ................................        13,782           1,574
MBIA .............................................        22,552           1,507
Torchmark ........................................        34,583           1,455
Synovus Financial ................................        44,089           1,444
Jefferson Pilot ..................................        17,711           1,379
Golden West Financial ............................        13,811           1,351
Cincinnati Financial .............................         8,953           1,259
Countrywide Credit ...............................        27,144           1,164
Beneficial .......................................        12,971           1,078
Providian Financial ..............................        23,799           1,075
Green Tree Financial .............................        33,202             869
USF&G ............................................        27,309             603
Total Financial .................................                        316,599
<PAGE>

TRANSPORTATION  1.3%
Union Pacific ....................................        60,993        $  3,808
Burlington Northern Santa Fe .....................        38,345           3,564
AMR * ............................................        22,740           2,922
CSX ..............................................        53,843           2,907
Norfolk Southern .................................        93,945          $2,895
Delta ............................................        17,967           2,138
Federal Express * ................................        28,392           1,734
US Airways * .....................................        23,214           1,451
Southwest Airlines ...............................        54,070           1,331
Ryder System .....................................        18,828             617
Caliber Systems ..................................         9,183             447
Total Transportation .............................                        23,814

Total Common Stocks (Cost  $1,339,536) ..........                      1,872,226

Short-Term Investments  1.9%
Commercial Paper  0.8%
Daimler-Benz North America, 5.50%, 2/10/98 .......     5,000,000           4,969
Preferred Receivables Funding, 5.62%, 2/5/98 .....     5,000,000           4,973
Rio Tinto, 5.70%, 1/9/98 .........................     5,000,000           4,994
                                                                          14,936

Money Market Funds  0.9%
Reserve Investment Fund, 5.84% # .................    18,124,931          18,125
                                                                          18,125

U.S. Government Obligations  0.2%
U.S. Treasury Bills, 5.11 - 5.13%, 3/5 - 4/16/98 .     3,000,000           2,967
                                                                           2,967

Total Short-Term Investments (Cost  $36,028) .....                        36,028

Total Investments in Securities
100.0% of Net Assets (Cost $1,375,564) ...........                    $1,908,254

Futures Contracts
In thousands
                                                   Contract    Unrealized
                                       Expiration     Value   Gain (Loss)
Long, 139 Standard & Poor's 500 
Stock Index contracts, $1,500,000 
of U.S. Treasury Bills pledged as 
initial margin                               3/98   $34,024          $80
Net payments (receipts) of variation 
margin to date                                                      (81)
Variation margin receivable (payable) 
on open futures contracts ........................                          (1)

Other Assets Less Liabilities ....................                           68

NET ASSETS .......................................                   $1,908,321
<PAGE>

Net Assets Consist of:
Accumulated net investment income - 
net of distributions .............................                      $   403
Accumulated net realized gain/loss - 
net of distributions .............................                        1,907
Net unrealized gain (loss) .......................                      532,770
Paid-in-capital applicable to 72,343,472
shares of $0.01 par value capital stock 
outstanding; 1,000,000,000 shares authorized .....                    1,373,241

NET ASSETS .......................................                   $1,908,321

NET ASSET VALUE PER SHARE .......................                       $ 26.38

*    Non-income producing
#    Seven-day yield
ADR  American Depository Receipt

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements. 

<PAGE>

T. Rowe Price Equity Index Fund
================================================================================
Statement of Operations
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
In thousands
                                                                            Year
                                                                           Ended
                                                                        12/31/97
Investment Income
Income
    Dividend .................................................          $ 23,832
    Interest .................................................             2,581
    Other ....................................................               136
    Total income .............................................            26,549
Expenses
    Investment management ....................................             2,516
    Shareholder servicing ....................................             2,427
    Registration .............................................               276
    Custody and accounting ...................................               199
    Prospectus and shareholder reports .......................               138
    Legal and audit ..........................................                17
    Directors ................................................                12
    Miscellaneous ............................................                23
    Total expenses ...........................................             5,608
Net investment income ........................................            20,941
Realized and Unrealized Gain (Loss)
Net realized gain (loss)
    Securities ...............................................             3,033
    Futures ..................................................            10,407
    Net realized gain (loss) .................................            13,440
Change in net unrealized gain or loss
    Securities ...............................................           328,200
    Futures ..................................................               170
    Change in net unrealized gain or loss ....................           328,370
Net realized and unrealized gain (loss) ......................           341,810
INCREASE (DECREASE) IN NET
ASSETS FROM OPERATIONS .......................................          $362,751

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements. 
<PAGE>

<TABLE>
T. Rowe Price Equity Index Fund
================================================================================
Statement of Changes in Net Assets
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
In thousands
<CAPTION>
                                                                                                       Year    
                                                                                                      Ended   
                                                                                                   12/31/97                12/31/96
<S>                                                                                                     <C>                     <C>
Increase (Decrease) in Net Assets
Operations
        Net investment income ......................................................             $    20,941              $  13,302
        Net realized gain (loss) ...................................................                  13,440                 11,658
        Change in net unrealized gain or loss ......................................                 328,370                109,832
        Increase (decrease) in net assets from operations ..........................                 362,751                134,792
Distributions to shareholders
        Net investment income ......................................................                 (20,538)               (13,495)
        Net realized gain ..........................................................                 (15,557)               (12,009)
        Decrease in net assets from distributions ..................................                 (36,095)               (25,504)
Capital share transactions *
        Shares sold ................................................................               1,089,014                357,516
        Distributions reinvested ...................................................                  35,129                 24,913
        Shares redeemed ............................................................                (350,274)              (141,657)
        Redemption fees received ...................................................                     141                     28
        Increase (decrease) in net assets from capital
        share transactions .........................................................                 774,010                240,800
Net equalization ...................................................................                      --                    311
Net Assets
Increase (decrease) during period ..................................................               1,100,666                350,399
Beginning of period ................................................................                 807,655                457,256
End of period ......................................................................             $ 1,908,321              $ 807,655
*Share information
        Shares sold ................................................................                  45,621                 19,435
        Distributions reinvested ...................................................                   1,426                  1,282
        Shares redeemed ............................................................                 (14,418)                (7,579)
        Increase (decrease) in shares outstanding ..................................                  32,629                 13,138
</TABLE>

The accompanying notes are an integral part of these financial statements. 
<PAGE>

T. Rowe Price Equity Index Fund
================================================================================
                                                               December 31, 1997
================================================================================
NOTES TO FINANCIAL STATEMENTS
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

NOTE 1 - SIGNIFICANT ACCOUNTING POLICIES

     T. Rowe Price Equity Index Fund,  Inc. (the fund) is  registered  under the
Investment Company Act of 1940 as a diversified,  open-end management investment
company and commenced operations on March 30, 1990.

     The  accompanying  financial  statements  are prepared in  accordance  with
generally  accepted  accounting  principles for the investment company industry;
these principles may require the use of estimates by fund management.

     VALUATION  Equity  securities  listed or  regularly  traded on a securities
exchange are valued at the last quoted sales price on the day the valuations are
made.  A security  which is listed or traded on more than one exchange is valued
at the quotation on the exchange  determined  to be the primary  market for such
security.  Listed  securities  not  traded on a  particular  day and  securities
regularly  traded in the  over-the-counter  market are valued at the mean of the
latest  bid and asked  prices.  Other  equity  securities  are valued at a price
within  the limits of the  latest  bid and asked  prices  deemed by the Board of
Directors, or by persons delegated by the Board, best to reflect fair value.

     Short-term  debt  securities  are  valued at  amortized  cost  which,  when
combined with accrued interest, approximates fair value.

     Investments  in mutual  funds are valued at the closing net asset value per
share of the mutual fund on the day of valuation.  Financial  futures  contracts
are valued at closing settlement prices.

     For purposes of determining the fund's net asset value per share,  the U.S.
dollar  value of all  assets  and  liabilities  initially  expressed  in foreign
currencies  is  determined by using the mean of the bid and offer prices of such
currencies against U.S. dollars quoted by a major bank.

     Assets  and  liabilities  for  which  the above  valuation  procedures  are
inappropriate  or are deemed not to reflect  fair value are stated at fair value
as determined in good faith by or under the  supervision  of the officers of the
fund, as authorized by the Board of Directors.

     CURRENCY  TRANSLATION  Assets  and  liabilities  are  translated  into U.S.
dollars at the  prevailing  exchange  rate at the end of the  reporting  period.
Purchases and sales of securities  and income and expenses are  translated  into
U.S. dollars at the prevailing  exchange rate on the dates of such transactions.
The effect of  changes in foreign  exchange  rates on  realized  and  unrealized
security gains and losses is reflected as a component of such gains and losses.
<PAGE>

     PREMIUMS AND  DISCOUNTS  Premiums  and  discounts  on debt  securities  are
amortized for both financial reporting and tax purposes.

     OTHER Income and expenses  are  recorded on the accrual  basis.  Investment
transactions are accounted for on the trade date.  Realized gains and losses are
reported on the identified  cost basis.  Dividend  income and  distributions  to
shareholders  are  recorded  by the fund on the  ex-dividend  date.  Income  and
capital gain  distributions are determined in accordance with federal income tax
regulations  and may differ from those  determined in accordance  with generally
accepted accounting principles. Effective January 1, 1997, the fund discontinued
its practice of equalization.  The results of operations and net assets were not
affected by this change.  Payments  ("variation margin") made or received by the
fund to settle  the daily  fluctuations  in the value of futures  contracts  are
recorded  as  unrealized  gains  or  losses  until  the  contracts  are  closed.
Unrealized  gains and losses on futures  contracts are included in Change in net
unrealized gain or loss in the accompanying financial statements.

NOTE 2 - INVESTMENT TRANSACTIONS

     Consistent with its investment objective, the fund engages in the following
practices  to manage  exposure  to  certain  risks or enhance  performance.  The
investment  objective,  policies,  program,  and  risk  factors  of the fund are
described  more fully in the  fund's  prospectus  and  Statement  of  Additional
Information.

     FUTURES  CONTRACTS At December  31,  1997,  the fund was a party to futures
contracts,  which  provide  for the  future  sale by one party and  purchase  by
another of a specified  amount of a specific  financial  instrument at an agreed
upon price, date, time, and place. Risks arise from possible  illiquidity of the
futures market and from movements in security values.

     SECURITIES  LENDING The fund lends its  securities  to approved  brokers to
earn additional income and takes cash and U.S. Treasury securities as collateral
to secure the loans. Collateral is maintained at not less than 100% of the value
of loaned securities.  At December 31, 1997, the value of securities on loan was
$66,150,000.  Although the risk is mitigated by the  collateral,  the fund could
experience a delay in recovering its securities and a possible loss of income or
value if the borrower fails to return them.

     OTHER  Purchases and sales of portfolio  securities,  other than short-term
securities,  aggregated $554,919,000 and $9,765,000,  respectively, for the year
ended December 31, 1997.

NOTE 3 - FEDERAL INCOME TAXES

     No provision for federal income taxes is required since the fund intends to
continue to qualify as a regulated  investment company and distribute all of its
taxable income.
<PAGE>

     At December 31, 1997, the aggregate cost of investments  for federal income
tax and financial reporting purposes was $1,375,564,000, and net unrealized gain
aggregated   $532,690,000,   of  which   $550,216,000   related  to  appreciated
investments and $17,526,000 to depreciated investments.

NOTE 4 - RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS

     The  investment  management  agreement  between  the fund and T. Rowe Price
Associates, Inc. (the manager) provides for an annual investment management fee,
of which  $328,000 was payable at December 31, 1997.  The fee is computed  daily
and paid monthly, and is equal to 0.20% of average daily net assets.

     Under the terms of the  investment  management  agreement,  the  manager is
required to bear any expenses  through  December 31, 1999, which would cause the
fund's  ratio of  expenses to average  net assets to exceed  0.40%.  Thereafter,
through  December  31, 2001,  the fund is required to reimburse  the manager for
these  expenses,  provided  that average net assets have grown or expenses  have
declined sufficiently to allow reimbursement without causing the fund's ratio of
expenses  to  average  net  assets  to  exceed  0.40%.  Pursuant  to a  previous
agreement, $283,000 of management fees were not accrued by the fund for the year
ended December 31, 1997.  Additionally,  $370,000 of unaccrued  1996  management
fees are subject to reimbursement through December 31, 1999.

     In addition,  the fund has entered into agreements with the manager and two
wholly owned  subsidiaries  of the manager,  pursuant to which the fund receives
certain other services. The manager computes the daily share price and maintains
the financial  records of the fund. T. Rowe Price Services,  Inc., is the fund's
transfer  and  dividend   disbursing   agent  and   provides   shareholder   and
administrative  services to the fund. T. Rowe Price  Retirement  Plan  Services,
Inc., provides  subaccounting and recordkeeping  services for certain retirement
accounts  invested in the fund.  The fund  incurred  expenses  pursuant to these
related party agreements  totaling  approximately  $2,231,000 for the year ended
December 31, 1997, of which $240,000 was payable at period-end.

     The fund may invest in the Reserve  Investment Fund and Government  Reserve
Investment  Fund   (collectively,   the  Reserve  Funds),   open-end  management
investment companies managed by T. Rowe Price Associates, Inc. The Reserve Funds
are offered as cash  management  options only to mutual funds and other accounts
managed by T. Rowe Price and its affiliates and are not available to the public.
The Reserve  Funds pay no investment  management  fees.  Distributions  from the
Reserve Funds to the fund for the year ended December 31, 1997, totaled $140,000
and  are  reflected  as  interest  income  in  the  accompanying   Statement  of
Operations.
<PAGE>

================================================================================
Tax Information (Unaudited) for the Tax Year Ended 12/31/97
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

We are providing this  information as required by the Internal Revenue Code. The
amounts  shown may  differ  from  those  elsewhere  in this  report  because  of
differences between tax and financial reporting requirements.

The fund's distributions to shareholders included:

*    $4,949,000 from short-term capital gains, and

*    $10,608,000  from long-term  capital gains; of which $5,923,000 was subject
     to the 20% rate gains category.

For corporate shareholders,  89% of the fund's distributed income and short-term
capital gains qualified for the dividends-received deduction.
================================================================================

<PAGE>

T. Rowe Price Equity Index Fund
================================================================================
REPORT OF INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

TO THE SHAREHOLDERS AND BOARD OF
DIRECTORS OF T. ROWE PRICE
EQUITY INDEX FUND, INC.

     We have audited the  accompanying  statement of net assets of T. Rowe Price
Equity Index Fund,  Inc. as of December 31, 1997,  and the related  statement of
operations  for the year then ended,  the statement of changes in net assets for
each of the two years in the period then ended and the financial  highlights for
each of the five years in the period then ended. These financial  statements and
financial  highlights  are the  responsibility  of the  Fund's  management.  Our
responsibility  is to  express  an opinion  on these  financial  statements  and
financial highlights based on our audits.

     We conducted  our audits in accordance  with  generally  accepted  auditing
standards.  Those standards require that we plan and perform the audit to obtain
reasonable  assurance  about  whether the  financial  statements  and  financial
highlights are free of material misstatement.  An audit includes examining, on a
test basis,  evidence  supporting  the amounts and  disclosures in the financial
statements.  Our procedures  included  confirmation  of investments  owned as of
December 31, 1997, by  correspondence  with the custodian and brokers.  An audit
also includes assessing the accounting principles used and significant estimates
made by  management,  as well as  evaluating  the  overall  financial  statement
presentation.  We believe  that our audits  provide a  reasonable  basis for our
opinion.

     In our opinion,  the financial statements and financial highlights referred
to above present fairly, in all material respects,  the financial position of T.
Rowe Price Equity Index Fund,  Inc. as of December 31, 1997,  the results of its
operations,  the changes in its net assets and financial  highlights for each of
the  respective  periods  stated  in the first  paragraph,  in  conformity  with
generally accepted accounting principles.

COOPERS & LYBRAND L.L.P.
Baltimore, Maryland
January 21, 1998

<PAGE>

T. Rowe Price Shareholder Services
================================================================================
INVESTMENT SERVICES AND INFORMATION

          KNOWLEDGEABLE SERVICE REPRESENTATIVES

          BY PHONE 1-800-225-5132 Available Monday through Friday from 8 a.m. to
          10 p.m. ET and weekends from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. ET.

          IN PERSON Available in T. Rowe Price Investor Centers.

          ACCOUNT SERVICES

          CHECKING Available on most fixed income funds ($500 minimum).

          AUTOMATIC INVESTING From your bank account or paycheck.

          AUTOMATIC WITHDRAWAL Scheduled, automatic redemptions.

          DISTRIBUTION   OPTIONS   Reinvest   all,   some,   or   none  of  your
          distributions.

          AUTOMATED 24-HOUR SERVICES Including  Tele*AccessRegistration Mark and
          T. Rowe Price OnLine.

          DISCOUNT BROKERAGE*

          INDIVIDUAL  INVESTMENTS Stocks, bonds,  options,  precious metals, and
          other securities at a savings over regular commission rates.

          INVESTMENT INFORMATION

          COMBINED STATEMENT Overview of your T. Rowe Price accounts.

          SHAREHOLDER  REPORTS Fund  managers'  reviews of their  strategies and
          results.

          T.  ROWE  PRICE  REPORT  Quarterly  investment  newsletter  discussing
          markets and financial strategies.

          PERFORMANCE UPDATE Quarterly review of all T. Rowe Price fund results.

          INSIGHTS  Educational  reports on investment  strategies and financial
          markets.

          INVESTMENT   GUIDES  Asset  Mix  Worksheet,   College   Planning  Kit,
          Diversifying  Overseas: A Guide to International  Investing,  Personal
          Strategy Planner,  Retirees  Financial Guide, and Retirement  Planning
          Kit.

* A division of T. Rowe Price Investment Services, Inc. Member NASD/SIPC.
<PAGE>


FOR YIELD, PRICE, LAST TRANSACTION, 
CURRENT BALANCE, OR TO CONDUCT 
TRANSACTIONS, 24 HOURS, 7 DAYS 
A WEEK, CALL TELE*ACCESS [REGISTRATION MARK]: 
1-800-638-2587 toll free 

FOR ASSISTANCE 
WITH YOUR EXISTING 
FUND ACCOUNT,  CALL:  
Shareholder Service Center  
1-800-225-5132 toll free 
410-625-6500  Baltimore area 

TO OPEN A DISCOUNT BROKERAGE 
ACCOUNT OR OBTAIN INFORMATION, 
CALL: 1-800-638-5660 toll free 

INTERNET ADDRESS:  
www.troweprice.com  

T. Rowe Price  Associates  
100 East  Pratt  Street
Baltimore,  Maryland  21202 

This report is authorized for  
distribution  only to shareholders  
and to others who have received 
a copy of the prospectus of the 
T. Rowe Price Equity Index Fund.

INVESTOR CENTERS:
101 East Lombard St.
Baltimore, MD 21202

T. Rowe Price
Financial Center
10090 Red Run Blvd.
Owings Mills, MD 21117

Farragut Square
900 17th Street, N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20006

ARCO Tower
31st Floor
515 South Flower St.
Los Angeles, CA 90071

4200 West Cypress St.
10th Floor
Tampa, FL 33607

T. Rowe Price Investment Services, Inc., Distributor.          F50-050  12/31/97


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