<TABLE> <S> <C>
<ARTICLE> 6
<CIK> 0000919898
<NAME> THE CORNERSTONE STRATEGIC RETURN FUND, INC.
<S> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> 6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-2000
<PERIOD-END> JUN-30-2000
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST> 98987466
<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE> 101326062
<RECEIVABLES> 4564501
<ASSETS-OTHER> 892021
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS> 8130
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 106790714
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES> 34521165
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES> 296109
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES> 34817274
<SENIOR-EQUITY> 5878
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON> 67273786
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK> 5150287
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR> 5792347
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT> (364470)
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII> 0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS> 2685184
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS> 0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC> 2373062
<NET-ASSETS> 71973440
<DIVIDEND-INCOME> 481800
<INTEREST-INCOME> 531805
<OTHER-INCOME> 0
<EXPENSES-NET> (912823)
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME> 100782
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT> 3890615
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT> (3974828)
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS> 16569
<EQUALIZATION> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER> 0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD> 0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED> (642060)
<SHARES-REINVESTED> 0
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS> (6749291)
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR> (465252)
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR> (1205431)
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES> 411352
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 9203
<GROSS-EXPENSE> 914466
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS> 82722475
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN> 13.59
<PER-SHARE-NII> .02
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC> .36
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND> 0
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS> 0
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL> 0
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END> 13.97
<EXPENSE-RATIO> 2.22
</TABLE>