<TABLE> <S> <C>
<ARTICLE> 6
<CIK> 0000893658
<NAME> ARK FUNDS
<SERIES>
<NUMBER> 061
<NAME> ARK BALANCED 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> 366904
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE> 399179
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<TOTAL-ASSETS> 402806
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<TOTAL-LIABILITIES> 529
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<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON> 346191
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK> 2770
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR> 2560
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT> 738
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<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS> 0
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<EXPENSES-NET> (1937)
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<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT> 2035
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT> (9912)
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS> (3777)
<EQUALIZATION> 0
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<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER> 0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD> 395
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED> (210)
<SHARES-REINVESTED> 25
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS> 2646
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR> 699
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR> 21038
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES> 1319
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0
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<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS> 403610
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN> 16.84
<PER-SHARE-NII> 0.16
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<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS> 0.00
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<PER-SHARE-NAV-END> 16.51
<EXPENSE-RATIO> 1.02
</TABLE>
