<PAGE> PAGE 1
000 A000000 03/31/97
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<PAGE> PAGE 2
012 C02AA01 NJ
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013 A00AA01 PRICE WATERHOUSE LLP
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014 A00AA02 PRUCO SECURITIES CORPORATION
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015 B00AA01 C
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<PAGE> PAGE 3
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<PAGE> PAGE 4
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<PAGE> PAGE 5
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<PAGE> PAGE 6
030 C000100 0.00
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<PAGE> PAGE 7
054 D000100 N
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<PAGE> PAGE 8
069 000100 Y
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070 F020100 Y
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070 I020100 N
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<PAGE> PAGE 9
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<PAGE> PAGE 10
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<PAGE> PAGE 11
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<PAGE> PAGE 12
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<PAGE> PAGE 13
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<PAGE> PAGE 14
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<PAGE> PAGE 15
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SIGNATURE GRACE C. TORRES
TITLE TREASURER
WARNING: THE EDGAR SYSTEM ENCOUNTERED ERROR(S) WHILE PROCESSING THIS SCHEDULE.
<TABLE> <S> <C>
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<CIK> 0000887991
<NAME> THE PRUDENTIAL INSTITUTIONAL FUND: STOCK INDEX FUND
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<NAME> THE PRUDENTIAL INSTITUTIONAL FUND: STOCK INDEX FUND
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<CIK>
<NAME> THE PRUDENTIAL DRYDEN FUND - ACTIVE BALANCED
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[NUMBER] 003
<NAME> THE PRUDENTIAL DRYDEN FUND - ACTIVE BALANCED (C)
<S> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> 6-MOS
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[PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC] 0.00
[PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND] (0.39)
[PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS] (0.78)
[RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL] 0.00
[PER-SHARE-NAV-END] 12.43
[EXPENSE-RATIO] 1.96
[AVG-DEBT-OUTSTANDING] 0
[AVG-DEBT-PER-SHARE] 0.00
<ARTICLE> 6
<CIK>
<NAME> THE PRUDENTIAL DRYDEN FUND - ACTIVE BALANCED
<SERIES>
[NUMBER] 004
<NAME> THE PRUDENTIAL DRYDEN FUND - ACTIVE BALANCED (Z)
<S> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> 6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> MAR-31-1997
<PERIOD-END> SEP-30-1997
[INVESTMENTS-AT-COST] 133,997,972
[INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE] 143,782,003
[RECEIVABLES] 2,300,419
[ASSETS-OTHER] 13,703
[OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS] 0
[TOTAL-ASSETS] 146,096,125
[PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES] 6,012
[SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT] 0
[OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES] 508,826
[TOTAL-LIABILITIES] 514,838
[SENIOR-EQUITY] 0
[PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON] 128,924,714
[SHARES-COMMON-STOCK] 11,674,530
[SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR] 11,806,338
[ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT] 1,025,019
[OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII] 0
[ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS] 5,847,523
[OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS] 0
[ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC] 9,784,031
[NET-ASSETS] 145,581,287
[DIVIDEND-INCOME] 663,573
[INTEREST-INCOME] 2,437,209
[OTHER-INCOME] 0
[EXPENSES-NET] 750,642
[NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME] 2,350,140
[REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT] 6,492,245
[APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT] (1,210,241)
[NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS] 7,632,144
[EQUALIZATION] 0
[DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME] 0
[DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS] 0
[DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER] (13,883,441)
[NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD] 36,626,039
[NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED] (52,265,158)
[SHARES-REINVESTED] 13,883,406
[NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS] (8,007,010)
[ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR] 3,302,693
[ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR] 8,610,905
[OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR] 0
[OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR] 0
[GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES] 514,076
[INTEREST-EXPENSE] 0
[GROSS-EXPENSE] 750,642
[AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS] 156,582,000
[PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN] 13
[PER-SHARE-NII] 1
[PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC] 0
[PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND] (0)
[PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS] (1)
[RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL] 0
[PER-SHARE-NAV-END] 12
[EXPENSE-RATIO] 1
[AVG-DEBT-OUTSTANDING] 0
[AVG-DEBT-PER-SHARE] 0
<ARTICLE> 6
<CIK>
<NAME> THE PRUDENTIAL DRYDEN FUND - ACTIVE BALANCED
<SERIES>
[NUMBER] 002
<NAME> THE PRUDENTIAL DRYDEN FUND - ACTIVE BALANCED (B)
<S> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> 6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> MAR-31-1997
<PERIOD-END> SEP-30-1997
[INVESTMENTS-AT-COST] 133,997,972
[INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE] 143,782,003
[RECEIVABLES] 2,300,419
[ASSETS-OTHER] 13,703
[OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS] 0
[TOTAL-ASSETS] 146,096,125
[PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES] 6,012
[SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT] 0
[OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES] 508,826
[TOTAL-LIABILITIES] 514,838
[SENIOR-EQUITY] 0
[PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON] 128,924,714
[SHARES-COMMON-STOCK] 11,674,530
[SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR] 11,806,338
[ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT] 1,025,019
[OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII] 0
[ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS] 5,847,523
[OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS] 0
[ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC] 9,784,031
[NET-ASSETS] 145,581,287
[DIVIDEND-INCOME] 663,573
[INTEREST-INCOME] 2,437,209
[OTHER-INCOME] 0
[EXPENSES-NET] 750,642
[NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME] 2,350,140
[REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT] 6,492,245
[APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT] (1,210,241)
[NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS] 7,632,144
[EQUALIZATION] 0
[DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME] 0
[DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS] 0
[DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER] (13,883,441)
[NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD] 36,626,039
[NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED] (52,265,158)
[SHARES-REINVESTED] 13,883,406
[NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS] (8,007,010)
[ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR] 3,302,693
[ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR] 8,610,905
[OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR] 0
[OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR] 0
[GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES] 514,076
[INTEREST-EXPENSE] 0
[GROSS-EXPENSE] 750,642
[AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS] 7,000
[PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN] 13.40
[PER-SHARE-NII] 0.20
[PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC] 0.00
[PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND] (0.39)
[PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS] (0.78)
[RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL] 0.00
[PER-SHARE-NAV-END] 12.43
[EXPENSE-RATIO] 1.96
[AVG-DEBT-OUTSTANDING] 0
[AVG-DEBT-PER-SHARE] 0.00
<ARTICLE> 6
<CIK>
<NAME> THE PRUDENTIAL DRYDEN FUND - ACTIVE BALANCED
<SERIES>
[NUMBER] 001
<NAME> THE PRUDENTIAL DRYDEN FUND - ACTIVE BALANCED (A)
<S> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> 6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> MAR-31-1997
<PERIOD-END> SEP-30-1997
[INVESTMENTS-AT-COST] 133,997,972
[INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE] 143,782,003
[RECEIVABLES] 2,300,419
[ASSETS-OTHER] 13,703
[OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS] 0
[TOTAL-ASSETS] 146,096,125
[PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES] 6,012
[SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT] 0
[OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES] 508,826
[TOTAL-LIABILITIES] 514,838
[SENIOR-EQUITY] 0
[PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON] 128,924,714
[SHARES-COMMON-STOCK] 11,674,530
[SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR] 11,806,338
[ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT] 1,025,019
[OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII] 0
[ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS] 5,847,523
[OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS] 0
[ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC] 9,784,031
[NET-ASSETS] 145,581,287
[DIVIDEND-INCOME] 663,573
[INTEREST-INCOME] 2,437,209
[OTHER-INCOME] 0
[EXPENSES-NET] 750,642
[NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME] 2,350,140
[REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT] 6,492,245
[APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT] (1,210,241)
[NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS] 7,632,144
[EQUALIZATION] 0
[DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME] 0
[DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS] 0
[DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER] (13,883,441)
[NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD] 36,626,039
[NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED] (52,265,158)
[SHARES-REINVESTED] 13,883,406
[NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS] (8,007,010)
[ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR] 3,302,693
[ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR] 8,610,905
[OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR] 0
[OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR] 0
[GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES] 514,076
[INTEREST-EXPENSE] 0
[GROSS-EXPENSE] 750,642
[AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS] 2,000
[PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN] 13.40
[PER-SHARE-NII] 0.23
[PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC] 0.00
[PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND] (0.39)
[PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS] (0.78)
[RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL] 0.00
[PER-SHARE-NAV-END] 12.46
[EXPENSE-RATIO] 1.21
[AVG-DEBT-OUTSTANDING] 0
[AVG-DEBT-PER-SHARE] 0.00
</TABLE>
For the semi-annual period ended 3/31/97
File number: 811-6677
SUB-ITEM 77C
Submission of Matters to a Vote of Security Holders
EXHIBITS
A special Meeting of Shareholders of the
Fund was called for October 30, 1996. At
such meeting the shareholders approved the
following proposals:
I. Active Balanced Fund
A) Approval that Edward D. Beach,
Delayne Dedrick Gold, Robert F. Gunia,
Donald D. Lennox, Douglas H.
McCorkindale, Mendel A. Melzer, Thomas
T. Mooney, Stephen P. Munn, Richard A.
Redeker, Robin B. Smith, Louis A. Weil,
III and Clay T. Whitehead are duly
elected to serve as Directors of the
Fund until the earlier to occur of (i)
the next meeting of Shareholders at
which Directors are elected and until
his or her successor shall have been
duly elected and shall have qualified or
(ii) their terms expire in accordance
with the Fund's retirement policy.
Affirmative
Votes Cast
Votes Withheld
Edward D. Beach
6,785,832.7654 90,013.8616
Delayne Dedrick Gold 6,785,739.6912
90,106.9358 Robert F. Gunia
6,785,836.6474 90,009.9796
Donald D. Lennox 6,785,591.6113
90,255.0157 Douglas H.
McCorkindale 6,785,836.6474
90,009.9796 Mendel A. Melzer
6,785,723.3711 90,123.2559
Thomas T. Mooney 6,785,836.6474
90,009.9796
Stephen P. Munn
6,785,832.7654 90,013.8616
Richard A. Redeker
6,785,836.6474 90,009.9796
Robin B. Smith 6,786,079.7917
89,766.83541
Louis A. Weil, III
6,785,832.7654 90,013.8616
Clay T. Whitehead
6,785,438.3404 90,408.2866
B) Approval of the proposed management
agreement between The Prudential
Institutional Fund and Prudential Mutual
Fund Management, Inc as described in
such Fund's proxy statement.
For Against
Abstain
6,841,419.7629 6,528.5808
27,898.2833
C) Approval of the proposed
subadvisory agreement between Prudential
Mutual Fund Management, Inc and The
Prudential Investment Corporation as
described in such Fund's proxy statement.
For Against
Abstain
6,842,060.1613 5,493.6299
28,292.8358
D) Approval of the proposed
subadvisory agreement between Prudential
Mutual Fund Management, Inc and The
Prudential Investment Corporation as
described in such Fund's proxy statement.
For Against
Abstain
6,842,878.8652 4,899.7746
28,067.9872
E) Approval of the selection of
Deloitte & Touche LLP as independent
accountants for the Fund conditioned upon
the right by vote of a majority of such
Fund's
outstanding voting shares at any meeting
called for the purpose to terminate such
employment forthwith without penalties.
For Against
Abstain
6,753,773.2076
94,561.5209 27,511.8985
II. Stock Index Fund
A) Approval that Edward D. Beach,
Delayne Dedrick Gold, Robert F. Gunia,
Donald D. Lennox, Douglas H.
McCorkindale, Mendel A. Melzer, Thomas
T. Mooney, Stephen P. Munn, Richard A.
Redeker, Robin B. Smith, Louis A. Weil,
III and Clay T. Whitehead are duly
elected to serve as Directors of the
Fund until the earlier to occur of (i)
the next meeting of Shareholders at
which Directors are elected and until
his or her successor shall have been
duly elected and shall have qualified or
(ii) their terms expire in accordance
with the Fund's retirement policy.
Affirmative
Votes Cast
Votes Withheld
Edward D. Beach
7,144,304.7213 28,506.6784
Delayne Dedrick Gold
7,145,388.8034 27,422.5963
Robert F. Gunia
7,144,298.9228 28,512.4769
Donald D. Lennox
7,145,244.6395 27,566.7602
Douglas H. McCorkindale
7,145,469.7484 27,341.6513
Mendel A. Melzer
7,145,356.4752 27,454.9245
Thomas T. Mooney
7,144,908.9866 27,902.4131
Stephen P. Munn 7,145,457.8423
27,353.5574 Richard A. Redeker
7,145,469.7484 27,341.6513 Robin
B. Smith 7,145,469.7484
27,341.6513
Louis A. Weil, III
7,144,896.7077 27,914.6920
Clay T. Whitehead
7,144,908.9866 27,902.4131
B) Approval of the proposed management
agreement between The Prudential Mutual
Fund Management, Inc. and The Prudential
Investment Corporation as described in
such Fund's proxy statement.
For Against
Abstain
7,101,413.4942 6,350.8814
65,047.0241
C) Approval of the proposed
subadvisory agreement between Prudential
Mutual Fund Management, Inc and The
Prudential Investment Corporation as
described in such Fund's proxy statement.
For Against
Abstain
7,101,342.8714 5,262.3985
64,206.1298
D) Approval of the selection of
Deloitte & Touche LLP as independent
accountants for the Fund conditioned upon
the right by vote of a majority of such
Fund's
outstanding voting shares at any meeting
called for the purpose to terminate such
employment forthwith without penalties.
For Against
Abstain
7,112,771.2793 8638.3189
51,401.8015
III. In their discretion on any
other business which may properly come
before the meeting or any adjournment
thereof.
For the semi-annual period ended 3/31/97
File number : 811-6677
SUB-ITEM 77 D
Policies with Respect to Securities
Investments
On February 19, 1997 the Directors
approved a change in investment policy
permitting the Fund to hold up to 15% of its
net assets in repurchase agreements which
have a maturity of longer than 7 days or
in other illiquid securities.
n-sar/pif2-97/77d
For the semi-annual period ended 3/31/97
File number: 811-7343
SUB-ITEM 77 I
Terms of New or Amended Securities
Effective October 30, 1996, the Fund
offered three new classes of shares, designated
Class A, Class B and Class C, for Prudential
Active Balanced Fund, a portfolio of the Fund.
The Fund's previously existing shares were
reclassified as Class Z shares. The Class Z
shares are not subject to either an initial or
contingent deferred sales charge nor are they
subject to any Rule 12b-1 fees.
