MERRILL LYNCH RETIREMENT ASSET BUILDER PROGRAM INC
NSAR-A, 1998-09-28
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<PAGE>      PAGE  1
000 A000000 07/31/98
000 C000000 0000918848
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 MERRILL LYNCH ASSET BUILDER PROGRAM, INC.
001 B000000 811-7177
001 C000000 6092822800
002 A000000 P.O. BOX 9011
002 B000000 PRINCETON
002 C000000 NJ
002 D010000 08543
002 D020000 9011
003  000000 N
004  000000 N
005  000000 N
006  000000 N
007 A000000 Y
007 B000000  5
007 C010100  1
007 C020100 ML FUNDAMENTAL VALUE PORTFOLIO
007 C030100 N
007 C010200  2
007 C020200 ML GLOBAL OPPORTUNITY PORTFOLIO
007 C030200 N
007 C010300  3
007 C020300 ML QUALITY BOND PORTFOLIO
007 C030300 N
007 C010400  4
007 C020400 ML U.S. GOVERNMENT SECURITIES PORTFOLIO
007 C030400 N
007 C010500  5
007 C020500 ML GROWTH OPPORTUNITY PORTFOLIO
007 C030500 N
007 C010600  6
007 C010700  7
007 C010800  8
007 C010900  9
007 C011000 10
008 A00AA01 MERRILL LYNCH ASSET MANAGEMENT, L.P.
008 B00AA01 A
008 C00AA01 801-11583
008 D01AA01 PRINCETON
008 D02AA01 NJ
008 D03AA01 08543
008 D04AA01 9011
008 A00AA02 MERRILL LYNCH ASSET MANAGEMENT U.K., LTD.
<PAGE>      PAGE  2
008 B00AA02 S
008 C00AA02 801-31780
008 D01AA02 LONDON
008 D05AA02 ENGLAND
008 D06AA02 EC24 9LY
011 A00AA01 MERRILL LYNCH FUNDS DISTRIBUTOR, INC.
011 B00AA01 8-14663
011 C01AA01 PRINCETON
011 C02AA01 NJ
011 C03AA01 08543
011 C04AA01 9011
012 A00AA01 FINANCIAL DATA SERVICES, INC.
012 B00AA01 84-01339
012 C01AA01 JACKSONVILLE
012 C02AA01 FL
012 C03AA01 32246
012 C04AA01 6484
013 A00AA01 DELOITTE & TOUCHE LLP
013 B01AA01 PRINCETON
013 B02AA01 NJ
013 B03AA01 08540
014 A00AA01 MERRILL LYNCH, PIERCE, FENNER & SMITH INC.
014 B00AA01 8-7221
018  00AA00 Y
019 A00AA00 Y
019 B00AA00  209
019 C00AA00 MERRILLLYN
020 A000001 GOLDMAN, SACHS & CO.
020 B000001 13-5108880
020 C000001     19
020 A000002 SCHRODER & CO. INC.
020 B000002 13-2697272
020 C000002     18
020 A000003 MORGAN STANLEY & CO. INCORPORATED
020 B000003 13-2655998
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020 A000004 MERRILL LYNCH, PIERCE, FENNER & SMITH INC.
020 B000004 13-5674085
020 C000004     12
020 A000005 SBC WARBURG DILLON READ INC.
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020 C000005     11
020 A000006 CREDIT SUISSE FIRST BOSTON CORPORATION
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020 A000007 MORGAN (J.P.) SECURITIES INC.
020 B000007 13-3224016
020 C000007      9
020 A000008 SMITH BARNEY INC.
020 B000008 13-1912900
020 C000008      7
<PAGE>      PAGE  3
020 A000009 BRIDGE TRADING COMPANY
020 B000009 43-1450530
020 C000009      7
020 A000010 BERNSTEIN (SANFORD C.) & CO., INC.
020 B000010 13-2625874
020 C000010      6
021  000000      192
022 A000001 GENERAL MOTORS ACCEPTANCE CORP.
022 C000001    509471
022 D000001         0
022 A000002 HSBC SECURITIES, INC.
022 B000002 13-2650272
022 C000002    400725
022 D000002       794
022 A000003 GENERAL ELECTRIC CAPITAL CORP.
022 C000003    301035
022 D000003         0
022 A000004 NIKKO SECURITIES CO. INTERNATIONAL, INC.(THE)
022 B000004 94-1302123
022 C000004    141039
022 D000004         0
022 A000005 GOLDMAN, SACHS & CO.
022 B000005 13-5108880
022 C000005     54843
022 D000005     16873
022 A000006 MORGAN STANLEY & CO. INCORPORATED
022 B000006 13-2655998
022 C000006     30914
022 D000006      3748
022 A000007 LEHMAN BROTHERS INC.
022 B000007 13-2518466
022 C000007     21141
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022 A000008 CHASE SECURITIES INC.
022 B000008 13-3112953
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022 A000009 MORGAN (J.P.) SECURITES INC.
022 B000009 13-3224016
022 C000009     13823
022 D000009      2710
022 A000010 CREDIT SUISSE FIRST BOSTON CORPORATION
022 B000010 13-5659485
022 C000010     10826
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026 A000000 N
026 B000000 Y
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<PAGE>      PAGE  4
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037  00AA00 N
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041  00AA00 Y
054 A00AA00 Y
054 B00AA00 Y
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054 D00AA00 N
054 E00AA00 N
054 F00AA00 N
054 G00AA00 N
054 H00AA00 Y
054 I00AA00 N
054 J00AA00 Y
054 K00AA00 N
054 L00AA00 N
054 M00AA00 Y
054 N00AA00 N
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015 A000102 ROYAL BANK OF CANADA
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<PAGE>      PAGE  5
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<PAGE>      PAGE  6
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<PAGE>      PAGE  7
031 B000100      0
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050  000100 N
051  000100 N
052  000100 N
053 A000100 N
055 A000100 N
055 B000100 N
056  000100 Y
<PAGE>      PAGE  8
057  000100 N
058 A000100 N
059  000100 Y
060 A000100 Y
060 B000100 Y
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066 A000100 Y
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066 D000100 N
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066 F000100 N
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067  000100 N
068 A000100 N
068 B000100 N
069  000100 N
070 A010100 Y
070 A020100 N
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070 B020100 N
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070 C020100 N
070 D010100 Y
070 D020100 N
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070 E020100 N
070 F010100 Y
070 F020100 N
070 G010100 Y
070 G020100 N
070 H010100 Y
070 H020100 N
<PAGE>      PAGE  9
070 I010100 N
070 I020100 N
070 J010100 Y
070 J020100 N
070 K010100 Y
070 K020100 N
070 L010100 Y
070 L020100 Y
070 M010100 Y
070 M020100 N
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070 N020100 N
070 O010100 Y
070 O020100 N
070 P010100 Y
070 P020100 N
070 Q010100 N
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070 R020100 N
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<PAGE>      PAGE  10
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015 A000201 THE BANK OF NEW YORK
015 B000201 C
015 C010201 NEW YORK
015 C020201 NY
015 C030201 10286
015 E010201 X
015 A000202 ROYAL BANK OF CANADA
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<PAGE>      PAGE  11
015 C010202 TORNTO
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015 E040202 X
015 A000203 MERITA BANK
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015 E040203 X
015 A000204 BANQUE PARIBAS
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015 C010204 PARIS
015 D010204 FRANCE
015 E040204 X
015 A000205 CREDIT COMMERCIAL DE FRANCE
015 B000205 S
015 C010205 FRANCE
015 D010205 FRANCE
015 E040205 X
015 A000206 DRESDNER BANK
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015 C010206 FRANKFURT
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015 C010207 DUBLIN
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015 A000208 CBISSO
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015 C010208 IRELAND
015 D010208 IRELAND
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015 A000209 CREST
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015 C010209 IRELAND
015 D010209 IRELAND
015 E040209 X
015 A000210 BANCA COMMERCIALE ITALIANA
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015 C010210 ROME
015 D010210 ITALY
015 E040210 X
015 A000211 BANQUE PARIBUS
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015 C010211 ITALY
015 D010211 ITALY
015 E040211 X
015 A000212 FUJI BANK
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<PAGE>      PAGE  12
015 D010212 JAPAN
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015 A000213 MITSUBISHI BANK OF TOKYO
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015 C010213 JAPAN
015 D010213 JAPAN
015 E040213 X
015 A000214 BANK OF JAPAN
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015 C010214 JAPAN
015 D010214 JAPAN
015 E040214 X
015 A000215 JASDEC
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015 C010215 JAPAN
015 D010215 JAPAN
015 E040215 X
015 A000216 BANCO DE MEXICO
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015 C010216 MEXICO
015 D010216 MEXICO
015 E040216 X
015 A000217 BANANMEX
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015 C010217 MEXICO
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015 E040217 X
015 A000218 UNITED OVERSEAS BANK
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015 C010218 SINGAPORE
015 D010218 SINGAPORE
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015 A000219 BANCO BILBAO VIZCAYA
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015 C010219 MADRID
015 D010219 SPAIN
015 E040219 X
015 A000220 SKANDINAVISKA ENSKILDA BANKEN
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015 C010220 STOCKHOLM
015 D010220 SWEDEN
015 E040220 X
015 A000221 UNION BANK OF SWITZERLAND
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015 C010221 ZURICH
015 D010221 SWITZERLAND
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015 A000222 BANK LEU
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<PAGE>      PAGE  13
015 E040222 X
015 A000223 MEESPIERSON, N.V.
015 B000223 S
015 C010223 NETHERLANDS
015 D010223 NETHERLANDS
015 E040223 X
015 A000224 BANK LABOUCHERE
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015 C010224 NETHERLANDS
015 D010224 NETHERLANDS
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015 A000225 CDS
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015 C010225 CANADA
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<PAGE>      PAGE  14
015 A000233 NIEC
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<PAGE>      PAGE  15
015 C020242 NY
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024  000200 N
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<PAGE>      PAGE  16
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<PAGE>      PAGE  17
048 G020200 0.000
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049  000200 N
050  000200 N
051  000200 N
052  000200 N
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055 A000200 N
055 B000200 N
056  000200 Y
057  000200 N
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066 A000200 Y
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066 C000200 N
066 D000200 N
066 E000200 N
066 F000200 N
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067  000200 N
068 A000200 N
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<PAGE>      PAGE  18
069  000200 N
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<PAGE>      PAGE  19
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<PAGE>      PAGE  20
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015 A000301 THE BANK OF NEW YORK
015 B000301 C
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015 C020301 NY
015 C030301 10286
015 E010301 X
015 A000302 BANKERS TRUST COMPANY
015 B000302 S
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015 C030302 10006
015 E010302 X
015 A000303 CHASE MANHATTAN
015 B000303 S
015 C010303 NEW YORK
015 C020303 NY
015 C030303 10017
015 E010303 X
015 A000304 CUSTODIAL TRUST CO.
015 B000304 S
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015 C020304 NY
015 C030304 10167
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015 A000305 MORGAN GUARANTEE TRUST CO.
015 B000305 S
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015 C020305 NY
015 C030305 10260
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<PAGE>      PAGE  21
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<PAGE>      PAGE  22
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<PAGE>      PAGE  23
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064 B000300 N
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070 F020300 N
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070 H010300 N
070 H020300 N
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070 I020300 N
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070 J020300 N
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070 L020300 N
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070 M020300 N
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070 N020300 N
070 O010300 Y
070 O020300 N
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070 P020300 N
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070 Q020300 N
<PAGE>      PAGE  24
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<PAGE>      PAGE  25
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015 A000401 THE BANK OF NEW YORK
015 B000401 C
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015 C020401 NY
015 C030401 10286
015 E010401 X
015 A000402 BANKERS TRUST COMPANY
015 B000402 S
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015 C030404 10167
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<PAGE>      PAGE  26
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015 C030405 10260
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<PAGE>      PAGE  27
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056  000400 Y
<PAGE>      PAGE  28
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070 A010400 Y
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070 H020400 N
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<PAGE>      PAGE  29
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070 N020400 Y
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<PAGE>      PAGE  30
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015 A000501 BANKERS TRUST COMPANY
015 B000501 S
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015 C030501 10006
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<PAGE>      PAGE  31
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015 E010502 X
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015 A000504 ROYAL BANK OF CANADA
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015 B000505 S
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015 C030505 10167
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<PAGE>      PAGE  32
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015 B000516 S
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015 C030520 10286
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<PAGE>      PAGE  33
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<PAGE>      PAGE  34
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<PAGE>      PAGE  35
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<PAGE>      PAGE  36
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<PAGE>      PAGE  37
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SIGNATURE   GERALD M. RICHARD                            
TITLE       TREASURER           
 


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</TABLE>

<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE> 6
<CIK> 0000918848
<NAME> MERRILL LYNCH ASSET BUILDER PROGRAM, INC.
<SERIES>
   <NUMBER> 031
   <NAME> QUALITY BOND PORTFOLIO
       
<S>                             <C>
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</TABLE>

<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE> 6
<CIK> 0000918848
<NAME> MERRILL LYNCH ASSET BUILDER PROGRAM, INC.
<SERIES>
   <NUMBER> 032
   <NAME> QUALITY BOND PORTFOLIO
       
<S>                             <C>
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</TABLE>

<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE> 6
<CIK> 0000918848
<NAME> MERRILL LYNCH ASSET BUILDER PROGRAM, INC.
<SERIES>
   <NUMBER> 033
   <NAME> QUALITY BOND PORTFOLIO
       
<S>                             <C>
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</TABLE>

<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE> 6
<CIK> 0000918848
<NAME> MERRILL LYNCH ASSET BUILDER PROGRAM, INC.
<SERIES>
   <NUMBER> 034
   <NAME> QUALITY BOND PORTFOLIO
       
<S>                             <C>
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</TABLE>

<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE> 6
<CIK> 0000918848
<NAME> MERRILL LYNCH ASSET BUILDER PROGRAM, INC.
<SERIES>
   <NUMBER> 041
   <NAME> US GOVERNMENT SECURITIES PORTFOLIO
       
<S>                             <C>
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</TABLE>

<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE> 6
<CIK> 0000918848
<NAME> MERRILL LYNCH ASSET BUILDER PROGRAM, INC.
<SERIES>
   <NUMBER> 042
   <NAME> US GOVERNMENT SECURITIES PORTFOLIO
       
<S>                             <C>
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</TABLE>

<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE> 6
<CIK> 0000918848
<NAME> MERRILL LYNCH ASSET BUILDER PROGRAM, INC.
<SERIES>
   <NUMBER> 043
   <NAME> US GOVERNMENT SECURITIES PORTFOLIO
       
<S>                             <C>
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</TABLE>

<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE> 6
<CIK> 0000918848
<NAME> MERRILL LYNCH ASSET BUILDER PROGRAM, INC.
<SERIES>
   <NUMBER> 044
   <NAME> US GOVERNMENT SECURITIES PORTFOLIO
       
<S>                             <C>
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</TABLE>

<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE> 6
<CIK> 0000918848
<NAME> MERRILL LYNCH ASSET BUILDER PROGRAM, INC.
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   <NUMBER> 051
   <NAME> GROWTH OPPORTUNITY PORTFOLIO
       
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</TABLE>

<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE> 6
<CIK> 0000918848
<NAME> MERRILL LYNCH ASSET BUILDER PROGRAM, INC.
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   <NUMBER> 052
   <NAME> GROWTH OPPORTUNITY PORTFOLIO
       
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</TABLE>

<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE> 6
<CIK> 0000918848
<NAME> MERRILL LYNCH ASSET BUILDER PROGRAM, INC.
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   <NUMBER> 053
   <NAME> GROWTH OPPORTUNITY PORTFOLIO
       
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</TABLE>

<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE> 6
<CIK> 0000918848
<NAME> MERRILL LYNCH ASSET BUILDER PROGRAM, INC.
<SERIES>
   <NUMBER> 054
   <NAME> GROWTH OPPORTUNITY PORTFOLIO
       
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</TABLE>


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