<TABLE> <S> <C>
<ARTICLE> 6
<CIK> 0000893658
<NAME> ARK FUNDS
<SERIES>
<NUMBER> 051
<NAME> ARK INCOME FUND RETAIL A
<MULTIPLIER> 1000
<S> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> 6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> APR-30-2001
<PERIOD-START> MAY-01-2000
<PERIOD-END> OCT-31-2000
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST> 486476
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE> 481289
<RECEIVABLES> 9806
<ASSETS-OTHER> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS> 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 491095
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES> 0
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES> 106495
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES> 106495
<SENIOR-EQUITY> 0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON> 402445
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK> 852
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR> 606
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT> 44
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII> 0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS> 0
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS> (12432)
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC> (5457)
<NET-ASSETS> 384600
<DIVIDEND-INCOME> 0
<INTEREST-INCOME> 13187
<OTHER-INCOME> 0
<EXPENSES-NET> (1545)
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME> 11642
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT> (228)
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT> 7523
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS> 18937
<EQUALIZATION> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME> (269)
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER> 0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD> 360
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED> (133)
<SHARES-REINVESTED> 19
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS> 2524
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR> 53
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR> (7459)
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES> 1115
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0
<GROSS-EXPENSE> 1774
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS> 369610
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN> 9.62
<PER-SHARE-NII> 0.29
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC> 0.20
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND> (0.30)
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS> 0.00
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL> 0.00
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END> 9.81
<EXPENSE-RATIO> 0.96
</TABLE>
