<TABLE> <S> <C>
<ARTICLE> 6
<CIK> 0000919557
<NAME> MFS TOTAL RETURN PORTFOLIO
<SERIES>
<NUMBER> 10
<NAME> TRAVELERS
<S> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> 6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> OCT-31-2000
<PERIOD-END> APR-30-2000
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST> 609,638,540
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE> 618,390,063
<RECEIVABLES> 5,696,362
<ASSETS-OTHER> 52,032
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS> 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 624,138,457
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES> 2,123,095
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES> 447,619
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES> 2,570,714
<SENIOR-EQUITY> 0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON> 559,271,116
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK> 37,811,741
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR> 38,345,904
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT> 27,972,542
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII> 0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS> 25,548,534
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS> 0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC> 8,775,551
<NET-ASSETS> 621,567,743
<DIVIDEND-INCOME> 9,293,909
<INTEREST-INCOME> 3,652,203
<OTHER-INCOME> 0
<EXPENSES-NET> 2,535,219
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME> 10,410,893
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT> (6,818,710)
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT> 7,829,465
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS> 0
<EQUALIZATION> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER> 0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD> 1,468,530
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED> 2,002,693
<SHARES-REINVESTED> 0
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS> (260,638)
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR> 17,561,649
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR> 21,311,252
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES> 2,438,475
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0
<GROSS-EXPENSE> 2,535,219
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS> 612,636,948
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN> 16.22
<PER-SHARE-NII> 0.28
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC> (0.06)
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND> 0.00
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS> 0.00
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL> 0.00
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END> 16.44
<EXPENSE-RATIO> 0.83
</TABLE>
