WARNING: THE EDGAR SYSTEM ENCOUNTERED ERROR(S) WHILE PROCESSING THIS SCHEDULE.
<TABLE> <S> <C>
<ARTICLE> 6
<S> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> 6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> OCT-31-2000
<PERIOD-END> APR-30-2000
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST> 224,921,479
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE> 290,150,632
<RECEIVABLES> 1,634,987
<ASSETS-OTHER> 5,211
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS> 10,001
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 291,800,831
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES> 1,622,500
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES> 626,151
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES> 2,248,651
<SENIOR-EQUITY> 0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON> 230,380,703
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK> 2,345,583
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR> 2,259,798
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT> (275,309)
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII> 0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS> (5,782,367)
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS> 0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC> 65,229,153
<NET-ASSETS> 289,552,180
<DIVIDEND-INCOME> 2,063,141
<INTEREST-INCOME> 135,982
<OTHER-INCOME> 0
<EXPENSES-NET> (2,045,030)
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME> 154,093
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT> (5,782,965)
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT> (3,522,273)
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS> (9,151,145)
<EQUALIZATION> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME> (16,065)
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS> (661,890)
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER> 0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD> 458,685
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED> (399,805)
<SHARES-REINVESTED> 26,905
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS> (2,155,775)
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR> 38,296
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR> 3,402,659
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES> 777,611
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0
<GROSS-EXPENSE> 2,163,864
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS> 290,553,810
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN> 25.00
<PER-SHARE-NII> (.05)
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC> (.75)
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND> (.01)
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS> (.29)
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL> 0
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END> 23.90
<EXPENSE-RATIO> 1.93<F1>
<FN>
<F1>Without the Manager's voluntary waiver of a portion of certain expenses
for this period, this fund would have had per share net investment
income of $(.05) and a ratio of expenses to average net assets of 1.99%.
The amount waived was $17,507.
</FN>
</TABLE>
