WARNING: THE EDGAR SYSTEM ENCOUNTERED ERROR(S) WHILE PROCESSING THIS SCHEDULE.
<TABLE> <S> <C>
<ARTICLE> 6
<LEGEND>
MSDW TOTAL RETURN TRUST
</LEGEND>
<S> <C>
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<FISCAL-YEAR-END> JUL-31-2000
<PERIOD-END> JUL-31-2000
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<INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE> 621,148,586
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<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS> 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 628,866,692
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES> (13,187,887)
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES> (1,378,813)
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES> (14,566,700)
<SENIOR-EQUITY> 0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON> 499,796,368
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK> 678,926
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR> 200,373
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<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS> 0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC> 99,517,800
<NET-ASSETS> 16,211,145
<DIVIDEND-INCOME> 3,094,717
<INTEREST-INCOME> 789,932
<OTHER-INCOME> 0
<EXPENSES-NET> (5,971,815)
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME> (2,090,166)
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT> 18,062,173
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT> 46,644,468
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS> 62,616,475
<EQUALIZATION> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS> (343,469)
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER> 0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD> 977,928
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED> (515,422)
<SHARES-REINVESTED> 16,047
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS> 411,858,961
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR> 0
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR> 13,990,193
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<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES> (2,605,802)
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<PER-SHARE-NII> (0.01)
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC> 4.72
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<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS> (1.19)
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<PER-SHARE-NAV-END> 23.88
<EXPENSE-RATIO> 1.18
</TABLE>