<PAGE> PAGE 1
000 B000000 07/31/98
000 C000000 0000865177
000 D000000 N
000 E000000 NF
000 F000000 Y
000 G000000 N
000 H000000 N
000 I000000 3.0.a
000 J000000 A
001 A000000 PUTNAM NEW OPPORTUNITIES FUND
001 B000000 811-6128
001 C000000 6172921562
002 A000000 ONE POST OFFICE SQUARE
002 B000000 BOSTON
002 C000000 MA
002 D010000 02109
003 000000 N
004 000000 N
005 000000 N
006 000000 N
007 A000000 N
007 B000000 0
007 C010100 1
007 C010200 2
007 C010300 3
007 C010400 4
007 C010500 5
007 C010600 6
007 C010700 7
007 C010800 8
007 C010900 9
007 C011000 10
008 A000001 PUTNAM INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT, INC.
008 B000001 A
008 C000001 801-7974
008 D010001 BOSTON
008 D020001 MA
008 D030001 02109
011 A000001 PUTNAM MUTUAL FUNDS CORP
011 B000001 8-5088
011 C010001 BOSTON
011 C020001 MA
011 C030001 02109
012 A000001 PUTNAM INVESTOR SERVICES
012 B000001 84-401299
012 C010001 BOSTON
012 C020001 MA
012 C030001 02109
013 A000001 PRICEWATERHOUSECOOPERS LLP
013 B010001 BOSTON
013 B020001 MA
<PAGE> PAGE 2
013 B030001 02110
015 A000001 PUTNAM FIDUCIARY TRUST COMPANY
015 B000001 C
015 C010001 BOSTON
015 C020001 MA
015 C030001 02109
015 E010001 X
015 A000002 BROWN BROTHERS HARRIMAN & COMPANY
015 B000002 C
015 C010002 BOSTON
015 C020002 MA
015 C030002 02109
015 E010002 X
018 000000 Y
019 A000000 Y
019 B000000 99
019 C000000 PUTNAMFUND
020 A000001 GOLDMAN SACHS & CO.
020 B000001 13-5108880
020 C000001 1106
020 A000002 CREDIT SUISSE FIRST BOSTON
020 C000002 963
020 A000003 EDWARDS (A.G.) & SONS INC.
020 B000003 43-0895477
020 C000003 954
020 A000004 MORGAN STANLEY DEAN WITTER
020 C000004 920
020 A000005 SALOMON SMITH BARNEY
020 C000005 789
020 A000006 BEAR STERNS & CO.
020 B000006 13-4946705
020 C000006 738
020 A000007 DONALDSON, LUFKIN, & JENRETTE SECURITIES CORP
020 B000007 13-2741729
020 C000007 608
020 A000008 MERRILL, LYNCH, PIERCE, FENNER & SMITH, INC.
020 B000008 13-5674085
020 C000008 554
020 A000009 PAINEWEBBER INC.
020 B000009 13-2638166
020 C000009 448
020 A000010 DEUTSCHE MORGAN GRENFELL
020 C000010 429
021 000000 14067
022 A000001 GOLDMAN SACHS & CO.
022 B000001 13-5108880
022 C000001 4986594
022 D000001 715044
022 A000002 MORGAN (JP) SECURITIES INC.
022 B000002 13-3224016
022 C000002 3165111
<PAGE> PAGE 3
022 D000002 272659
022 A000003 SBC DILLON REED
022 C000003 2983473
022 D000003 0
022 A000004 UBS SECURITIES
022 B000004 13-2932996
022 C000004 1822749
022 D000004 15549
022 A000005 MERRILL, LYNCH, PIERCE, FENNER & SMITH, INC.
022 B000005 13-5674085
022 C000005 847838
022 D000005 299467
022 A000006 MORGAN STANLEY DEAN WITTER
022 C000006 680413
022 D000006 460106
022 A000007 LEHMAN BROTHERS
022 B000007 13-2518466
022 C000007 687800
022 D000007 194539
022 A000008 CREDIT SUISSE FIRST BOSTON
022 C000008 627359
022 D000008 169221
022 A000009 SALOMON SMITH BARNEY
022 C000009 305102
022 D000009 431548
022 A000010 BROWN (ALEX) & SONS, INC.
022 B000010 52-0256630
022 C000010 215918
022 D000010 248926
023 C000000 18767299
023 D000000 4497514
024 000000 N
025 D000001 0
025 D000002 0
025 D000003 0
025 D000004 0
025 D000005 0
025 D000006 0
025 D000007 0
025 D000008 0
026 A000000 Y
026 B000000 Y
026 C000000 Y
026 D000000 Y
026 E000000 N
026 F000000 N
026 G010000 Y
026 G020000 Y
026 H000000 N
027 000000 Y
028 A010000 217694
<PAGE> PAGE 4
028 A020000 41
028 A030000 0
028 A040000 268614
028 B010000 236144
028 B020000 7
028 B030000 0
028 B040000 254840
028 C010000 301731
028 C020000 0
028 C030000 0
028 C040000 310734
028 D010000 356199
028 D020000 0
028 D030000 0
028 D040000 288658
028 E010000 257764
028 E020000 0
028 E030000 0
028 E040000 217437
028 F010000 234742
028 F020000 0
028 F030000 0
028 F040000 259014
028 G010000 1604274
028 G020000 48
028 G030000 0
028 G040000 1599297
028 H000000 1604274
029 000000 Y
030 A000000 7009
030 B000000 5.75
030 C000000 3.50
031 A000000 1934
031 B000000 0
032 000000 5075
033 000000 0
034 000000 Y
035 000000 11574
036 A000000 N
036 B000000 0
037 000000 N
038 000000 0
039 000000 N
040 000000 Y
041 000000 Y
042 A000000 0
042 B000000 0
042 C000000 100
042 D000000 0
042 E000000 0
042 F000000 0
<PAGE> PAGE 5
042 G000000 0
042 H000000 0
043 000000 96034
044 000000 0
045 000000 Y
046 000000 N
047 000000 Y
048 000000 0.000
048 A010000 500000
048 A020000 0.700
048 B010000 500000
048 B020000 0.600
048 C010000 500000
048 C020000 0.550
048 D010000 5000000
048 D020000 0.500
048 E010000 5000000
048 E020000 0.475
048 F010000 5000000
048 F020000 0.455
048 G010000 5000000
048 G020000 0.440
048 H010000 0
048 H020000 0.000
048 I010000 0
048 I020000 0.000
048 J010000 0
048 J020000 0.000
048 K010000 21500000
048 K020000 0.430
049 000000 N
050 000000 N
051 000000 N
052 000000 N
053 A000000 N
054 A000000 Y
054 B000000 Y
054 C000000 Y
054 D000000 N
054 E000000 N
054 F000000 N
054 G000000 N
054 H000000 N
054 I000000 N
054 J000000 Y
054 K000000 N
054 L000000 Y
054 M000000 Y
054 N000000 N
054 O000000 Y
055 A000000 N
<PAGE> PAGE 6
055 B000000 N
056 000000 N
057 000000 N
058 A000000 N
059 000000 Y
060 A000000 Y
060 B000000 Y
061 000000 500
062 A000000 N
062 B000000 0.0
062 C000000 0.0
062 D000000 0.0
062 E000000 0.0
062 F000000 0.0
062 G000000 0.0
062 H000000 0.0
062 I000000 0.0
062 J000000 0.0
062 K000000 0.0
062 L000000 0.0
062 M000000 0.0
062 N000000 0.0
062 O000000 0.0
062 P000000 0.0
062 Q000000 0.0
062 R000000 0.0
063 A000000 0
063 B000000 0.0
066 A000000 Y
066 B000000 N
066 C000000 Y
066 D000000 N
066 E000000 N
066 F000000 N
066 G000000 N
067 000000 N
068 A000000 N
068 B000000 N
069 000000 N
070 A010000 Y
070 A020000 Y
070 B010000 Y
070 B020000 N
070 C010000 N
070 C020000 N
070 D010000 Y
070 D020000 N
070 E010000 N
070 E020000 N
070 F010000 Y
070 F020000 N
<PAGE> PAGE 7
070 G010000 N
070 G020000 N
070 H010000 Y
070 H020000 N
070 I010000 N
070 I020000 N
070 J010000 N
070 J020000 N
070 K010000 Y
070 K020000 N
070 L010000 Y
070 L020000 Y
070 M010000 Y
070 M020000 N
070 N010000 Y
070 N020000 N
070 O010000 Y
070 O020000 N
070 P010000 Y
070 P020000 N
070 Q010000 N
070 Q020000 N
070 R010000 N
070 R020000 N
071 A000000 10625245
071 B000000 10575467
071 C000000 16218262
071 D000000 65
072 A000000 12
072 B000000 20813
072 C000000 57349
072 D000000 0
072 E000000 0
072 F000000 81116
072 G000000 58
072 H000000 0
072 I000000 29763
072 J000000 0
072 K000000 2321
072 L000000 1308
072 M000000 321
072 N000000 174
072 O000000 0
072 P000000 0
072 Q000000 0
072 R000000 244
072 S000000 117
072 T000000 96034
072 U000000 0
072 V000000 0
072 W000000 2045
<PAGE> PAGE 8
072 X000000 213501
072 Y000000 0
072 Z000000 -135339
072AA000000 1228127
072BB000000 0
072CC010000 0
072CC020000 3538794
072DD010000 0
072DD020000 0
072EE000000 185203
073 A010000 0.0000
073 A020000 0.0000
073 B000000 1.0900
073 C000000 0.0000
074 A000000 294
074 B000000 112491
074 C000000 333990
074 D000000 0
074 E000000 0
074 F000000 18522393
074 G000000 0
074 H000000 0
074 I000000 0
074 J000000 177100
074 K000000 0
074 L000000 30461
074 M000000 0
074 N000000 19176729
074 O000000 53817
074 P000000 37926
074 Q000000 0
074 R010000 0
074 R020000 0
074 R030000 0
074 R040000 50391
074 S000000 0
074 T000000 19034595
074 U010000 176210
074 U020000 143470
074 V010000 57.68
074 V020000 55.42
074 W000000 0.0000
074 X000000 1280040
074 Y000000 0
075 A000000 0
075 B000000 16594943
076 000000 0.00
077 A000000 Y
077 B000000 Y
078 000000 N
080 A000000 FEDERAL INSURANCE CO
<PAGE> PAGE 9
080 B000000 NATIONAL FIRE UNION INSURANCE CO.
080 C000000 50
081 A000000 Y
081 B000000 98
082 A000000 N
082 B000000 0
083 A000000 N
083 B000000 0
084 A000000 N
084 B000000 0
085 A000000 Y
085 B000000 N
086 A010000 0
086 A020000 0
086 B010000 0
086 B020000 0
086 C010000 0
086 C020000 0
086 D010000 0
086 D020000 0
086 E010000 0
086 E020000 0
086 F010000 0
086 F020000 0
SIGNATURE PAUL BUCAVALAS
TITLE MANAGING DIRECTOR
WARNING: THE EDGAR SYSTEM ENCOUNTERED ERROR(S) WHILE PROCESSING THIS SCHEDULE.
<TABLE> <S> <C>
<ARTICLE> 6
<LEGEND>
Putnam New Opportunities Fund
</LEGEND>
<SERIES>
<NUMBER> 3
<NAME> CLASS A
<S> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> YEAR
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> JUN-30-1998
<PERIOD-END> JUN-30-1998
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST> 12,283,559,610
INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE> 18,968,874,164
<RECEIVABLES> 207,561,394
<ASSETS-OTHER> 293,540
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS> 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 19,176,729,098
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES> 53,816,761
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES> 88,316,885
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES> 142,133,646
<SENIOR-EQUITY> 0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON> 11,757,369,844
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK> 176,210,560
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR> 165,997,512
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT> 0
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII> 0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS> 591,911,054
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS> 0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC> 6,685,314,554
<NET-ASSETS> 19,034,595,452
<DIVIDEND-INCOME> 57,349,201
<INTEREST-INCOME> 20,813,315
<OTHER-INCOME> 0
<EXPENSES-NET> 213,501,451
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME> (135,338,935)
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT> 1,228,126,664
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT> 3,538,793,763
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS> 4,631,581,472
<EQUALIZATION> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS> (185,202,878)
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER> 0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD> 42,566,727
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED> (36,146,474)
<SHARES-REINVESTED> 3,792,795
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS> 4,701,863,215
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR> 0
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR> (29,062)
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR> (277,940,665)
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES> 81,116,258
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0
<GROSS-EXPENSE> 217,462,501
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS> 8,772,174,881
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN> 44.47
<PER-SHARE-NII> (.25)
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC> 14.55
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND> 0
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS> (1.09)
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL> 0
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END> 57.68
<EXPENSE-RATIO> .98
<AVG-DEBT-OUTSTANDING> 0
<AVG-DEBT-PER-SHARE> 0
</TABLE>
WARNING: THE EDGAR SYSTEM ENCOUNTERED ERROR(S) WHILE PROCESSING THIS SCHEDULE.
<TABLE> <S> <C>
<ARTICLE> 6
<LEGEND>
Putnam New Opportunities Fund
</LEGEND>
<SERIES>
<NUMBER> 3
<NAME> CLASS B
<S> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> YEAR
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> JUN-30-1998
<PERIOD-END> JUN-30-1998
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST> 12,283,559,610
INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE> 18,968,874,164
<RECEIVABLES> 207,561,394
<ASSETS-OTHER> 293,540
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS> 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 19,176,729,098
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES> 53,816,761
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES> 88,316,885
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES> 142,133,646
<SENIOR-EQUITY> 0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON> 11,757,369,844
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK> 143,470,492
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR> 147,610,222
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT> 0
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII> 0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS> 591,911,054
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS> 0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC> 6,685,314,554
<NET-ASSETS> 19,034,595,452
<DIVIDEND-INCOME> 57,349,201
<INTEREST-INCOME> 20,813,315
<OTHER-INCOME> 0
<EXPENSES-NET> 213,501,451
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME> (135,338,935)
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT> 1,228,126,664
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT> 3,538,793,763
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS> 4,631,581,472
<EQUALIZATION> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS> (157,607,099)
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER> 0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD> 10,958,089
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED> (18,161,751)
<SHARES-REINVESTED> 3,063,932
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS> 4,701,863,215
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR> 0
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR> (29,062)
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR> (277,940,665)
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES> 81,116,258
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0
<GROSS-EXPENSE> 217,462,501
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS> 7,132,760,740
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN> 43.08
<PER-SHARE-NII> (.62)
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC> 14.05
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND> 0
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS> (1.09)
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL> 0
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END> 55.42
<EXPENSE-RATIO> 1.73
<AVG-DEBT-OUTSTANDING> 0
<AVG-DEBT-PER-SHARE> 0
</TABLE>
WARNING: THE EDGAR SYSTEM ENCOUNTERED ERROR(S) WHILE PROCESSING THIS SCHEDULE.
<TABLE> <S> <C>
<ARTICLE> 6
<LEGEND>
Putnam New Opportunities Fund
</LEGEND>
<SERIES>
<NUMBER> 3
<NAME> CLASS M
<S> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> YEAR
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> JUN-30-1998
<PERIOD-END> JUN-30-1998
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST> 12,283,559,610
INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE> 18,968,874,164
<RECEIVABLES> 207,561,394
<ASSETS-OTHER> 293,540
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS> 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 19,176,729,098
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES> 53,816,761
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES> 88,316,885
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES> 142,133,646
<SENIOR-EQUITY> 0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON> 11,757,369,844
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK> 7,843,764
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR> 7,687,198
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT> 0
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII> 0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS> 591,911,054
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS> 0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC> 6,685,314,554
<NET-ASSETS> 19,034,595,452
<DIVIDEND-INCOME> 57,349,201
<INTEREST-INCOME> 20,813,315
<OTHER-INCOME> 0
<EXPENSES-NET> 213,501,451
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME> (135,338,935)
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT> 1,228,126,664
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT> 3,538,793,763
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS> 4,631,581,472
<EQUALIZATION> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS> (8,456,807)
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER> 0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD> 1,779,820
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED> (1,788,827)
<SHARES-REINVESTED> 165,573
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS> 4,701,863,215
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR> 0
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR> (29,062)
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR> (277,940,665)
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES> 81,116,258
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0
<GROSS-EXPENSE> 217,462,501
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS> 391,846,843
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN> 43.91
<PER-SHARE-NII> (.49)
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC> 14.32
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND> 0
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS> (1.09)
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL> 0
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END> 56.65
<EXPENSE-RATIO> 1.48
<AVG-DEBT-OUTSTANDING> 0
<AVG-DEBT-PER-SHARE> 0
</TABLE>
WARNING: THE EDGAR SYSTEM ENCOUNTERED ERROR(S) WHILE PROCESSING THIS SCHEDULE.
<TABLE> <S> <C>
<ARTICLE> 6
<LEGEND>
Putnam New Opportunities Fund
</LEGEND>
<SERIES>
<NUMBER> 3
<NAME> CLASS Y
<S> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> YEAR
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> JUN-30-1998
<PERIOD-END> JUN-30-1998
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST> 12,283,559,610
INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE> 18,968,874,164
<RECEIVABLES> 207,561,394
<ASSETS-OTHER> 293,540
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS> 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 19,176,729,098
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES> 53,816,761
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES> 88,316,885
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES> 142,133,646
<SENIOR-EQUITY> 0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON> 11,757,369,844
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK> 8,167,953
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR> 5,670,417
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT> 0
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII> 0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS> 591,911,054
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS> 0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC> 6,685,314,554
<NET-ASSETS> 19,034,595,452
<DIVIDEND-INCOME> 57,349,201
<INTEREST-INCOME> 20,813,315
<OTHER-INCOME> 0
<EXPENSES-NET> 213,501,451
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME> (135,338,935)
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT> 1,228,126,664
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT> 3,538,793,763
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS> 4,631,581,472
<EQUALIZATION> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS> (7,008,141)
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER> 0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD> 4,222,463
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED> (1,874,552)
<SHARES-REINVESTED> 149,625
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS> 4,701,863,215
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR> 0
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR> (29,062)
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR> (277,940,665)
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES> 81,116,258
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0
<GROSS-EXPENSE> 217,462,501
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS> 348.160,107
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN> 44.82
<PER-SHARE-NII> (.13)
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC> 14.68
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND> 0
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS> (1.09)
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL> 0
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END> 58.28
<EXPENSE-RATIO> .73
<AVG-DEBT-OUTSTANDING> 0
<AVG-DEBT-PER-SHARE> 0
</TABLE>
