<PAGE> PAGE 1
000 A000000 02/29/96
000 C000000 0000932101
000 D000000 N
000 E000000 NF
000 F000000 Y
000 G000000 Y
000 H000000 N
000 I000000 3.0
000 J000000 U
001 A000000 PUTNAM INVESTMENT FUNDS
001 B000000 811-7237
001 C000000 6172921562
002 A000000 ONE POST OFFICE SQUARE
002 B000000 BOSTON
002 C000000 MA
002 D010000 02109
003 000000 N
004 000000 N
005 000000 N
006 000000 N
007 A000000 Y
007 B000000 11
007 C010100 1
007 C020100 PUTNAM AMERICAN RENAISSANCE FUND
007 C030100 N
007 C010200 2
007 C020200 PUTNAM RESEARCH FUND
007 C030200 N
007 C010300 3
007 C020300 PUTNAM BALANCED FUND
007 C030300 N
007 C010400 4
007 C020400 PUTNAM NEW VALUE FUND
007 C030400 N
007 C010500 5
007 C020500 PUTNAM GLOBAL UTILITIES FUND
007 C030500 N
007 C010600 6
007 C020600 PUTNAM REAL ESTATE OPPORTUNITIES FUND
007 C030600 N
007 C010700 7
007 C020700 PUTNAM INTERNATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES FUND
007 C030700 N
007 C010800 8
007 C020800 PUTNAM EMERGING GROWTH FUND
007 C030800 N
007 C010900 9
007 C020900 PUTNAM INTERNATIONAL FUND
007 C030900 N
007 C011000 10
007 C021000 PUTNAM GENESIS FUND
<PAGE> PAGE 2
007 C031000 N
020 A000001 NIKKO SECURITIES CO. INTERNATIONAL INC.
020 B000001 94-1302123
020 C000001 29
020 A000002 KLEINWORT BENSON INC.
020 B000002 13-2647786
020 C000002 7
020 A000003 GOLDMAN SACHS & CO.
020 B000003 13-5108880
020 C000003 3
020 A000004 WI CARR & SONS
020 B000004 13-2927466
020 C000004 2
020 A000005 ROBERT FLEMING INC.
020 B000005 13-3298866
020 C000005 2
020 A000006 SALOMON BROTHERS INC.
020 B000006 13-3082694
020 C000006 2
020 A000007 BARING SECURITIES INC.
020 B000007 04-2455153
020 C000007 2
020 A000008 KANKAKU SECURITIES (AMERICA) INC.
020 B000008 13-3038090
020 C000008 1
020 A000009 GARANTIA SA CORRETORA DE TITU
020 C000009 1
020 A000010 WORLDSEC INTERNATIONAL
020 C000010 1
021 000000 76
026 A000000 Y
026 B000000 Y
026 C000000 Y
026 D000000 Y
026 E000000 N
026 F000000 N
026 G010000 Y
026 G020000 Y
026 H000000 N
027 000000 Y
045 000100 Y
046 000100 N
047 000100 Y
048 000100 0.000
048 A010100 500000
048 A020100 0.700
048 B010100 500000
048 B020100 0.600
048 C010100 500000
048 C020100 0.550
048 D010100 5000000
<PAGE> PAGE 3
048 D020100 0.500
048 E010100 5000000
048 E020100 0.475
048 F010100 5000000
048 F020100 0.455
048 G010100 5000000
048 G020100 0.440
048 H010100 0
048 H020100 0.000
048 I010100 0
048 I020100 0.000
048 J010100 0
048 J020100 0.000
048 K010100 21500000
048 K020100 0.430
062 A000100 N
062 B000100 0.0
062 C000100 0.0
062 D000100 0.0
062 E000100 0.0
062 F000100 0.0
062 G000100 0.0
062 H000100 0.0
062 I000100 0.0
062 J000100 0.0
062 K000100 0.0
062 L000100 0.0
062 M000100 0.0
062 N000100 0.0
062 O000100 0.0
062 P000100 0.0
062 Q000100 0.0
062 R000100 0.0
071 A000100 3179
071 B000100 1190
071 C000100 2077
071 D000100 57
072 A000100 4
074 N000100 2654
074 T000100 2373
075 A000100 0
075 B000100 2103
045 000200 Y
046 000200 N
047 000200 Y
048 000200 0.000
048 A010200 500000
048 A020200 0.650
048 B010200 500000
048 B020200 0.550
048 C010200 500000
<PAGE> PAGE 4
048 C020200 0.500
048 D010200 5000000
048 D020200 0.450
048 E010200 5000000
048 E020200 0.425
048 F010200 5000000
048 F020200 0.405
048 G010200 5000000
048 G020200 0.390
048 H010200 0
048 H020200 0.000
048 I010200 0
048 I020200 0.000
048 J010200 0
048 J020200 0.000
048 K010200 21500000
048 K020200 0.380
062 A000200 N
062 B000200 0.0
062 C000200 0.0
062 D000200 0.0
062 E000200 0.0
062 F000200 0.0
062 G000200 0.0
062 H000200 0.0
062 I000200 0.0
062 J000200 0.0
062 K000200 0.0
062 L000200 0.0
062 M000200 0.0
062 N000200 0.0
062 O000200 0.0
062 P000200 0.0
062 Q000200 0.0
062 R000200 0.0
071 A000200 4219
071 B000200 682
071 C000200 3508
071 D000200 19
072 A000200 4
074 N000200 3937
074 T000200 3910
075 A000200 0
075 B000200 3372
045 000300 Y
046 000300 N
047 000300 Y
048 000300 0.000
048 A010300 500000
048 A020300 0.650
048 B010300 500000
<PAGE> PAGE 5
048 B020300 0.550
048 C010300 5000000
048 C020300 0.450
048 D010300 5000000
048 D020300 0.425
048 E010300 5000000
048 E020300 0.405
048 F010300 5000000
048 F020300 0.390
048 G010300 0
048 G020300 0.000
048 H010300 0
048 H020300 0.000
048 I010300 0
048 I020300 0.000
048 J010300 0
048 J020300 0.000
048 K010300 21000000
048 K020300 0.380
062 A000300 N
062 B000300 0.0
062 C000300 0.0
062 D000300 0.0
062 E000300 0.0
062 F000300 0.0
062 G000300 0.0
062 H000300 0.0
062 I000300 0.0
062 J000300 0.0
062 K000300 0.0
062 L000300 0.0
062 M000300 0.0
062 N000300 0.0
062 O000300 0.0
062 P000300 0.0
062 Q000300 0.0
062 R000300 0.0
071 A000300 3137
071 B000300 1592
071 C000300 1673
071 D000300 95
072 A000300 8
074 N000300 2024
074 T000300 1951
075 A000300 0
075 B000300 1759
045 000400 Y
046 000400 N
047 000400 Y
048 000400 0.000
048 A010400 500000
<PAGE> PAGE 6
048 A020400 0.700
048 B010400 500000
048 B020400 0.600
048 C010400 500000
048 C020400 0.550
048 D010400 5000000
048 D020400 0.500
048 E010400 5000000
048 E020400 0.475
048 F010400 5000000
048 F020400 0.455
048 G010400 5000000
048 G020400 0.440
048 H010400 0
048 H020400 0.000
048 I010400 0
048 I020400 0.000
048 J010400 0
048 J020400 0.000
048 K010400 21500000
048 K020400 0.430
062 A000400 N
062 B000400 0.0
062 C000400 0.0
062 D000400 0.0
062 E000400 0.0
062 F000400 0.0
062 G000400 0.0
062 H000400 0.0
062 I000400 0.0
062 J000400 0.0
062 K000400 0.0
062 L000400 0.0
062 M000400 0.0
062 N000400 0.0
062 O000400 0.0
062 P000400 0.0
062 Q000400 0.0
062 R000400 0.0
071 A000400 2815
071 B000400 1093
071 C000400 9929
071 D000400 11
072 A000400 6
074 N000400 6078
074 T000400 4899
075 A000400 0
075 B000400 2806
045 000500 Y
046 000500 N
047 000500 Y
<PAGE> PAGE 7
048 000500 0.000
048 A010500 500000
048 A020500 0.800
048 B010500 500000
048 B020500 0.700
048 C010500 500000
048 C020500 0.650
048 D010500 5000000
048 D020500 0.600
048 E010500 5000000
048 E020500 0.575
048 F010500 5000000
048 F020500 0.555
048 G010500 5000000
048 G020500 0.540
048 H010500 0
048 H020500 0.000
048 I010500 0
048 I020500 0.000
048 J010500 0
048 J020500 0.000
048 K010500 21500000
048 K020500 0.530
062 A000500 N
062 B000500 0.0
062 C000500 0.0
062 D000500 0.0
062 E000500 0.0
062 F000500 0.0
062 G000500 0.0
062 H000500 0.0
062 I000500 0.0
062 J000500 0.0
062 K000500 0.0
062 L000500 0.0
062 M000500 0.0
062 N000500 0.0
062 O000500 0.0
062 P000500 0.0
062 Q000500 0.0
062 R000500 0.0
071 A000500 1828
071 B000500 320
071 C000500 1477
071 D000500 22
072 A000500 9
074 N000500 1785
074 T000500 1771
075 A000500 0
075 B000500 1633
028 A010600 1
<PAGE> PAGE 8
028 A020600 0
028 A030600 6
028 A040600 -5
028 B010600 0
028 B020600 0
028 B030600 1
028 B040600 -1
028 C010600 0
028 C020600 0
028 C030600 0
028 C040600 0
028 D010600 0
028 D020600 114
028 D030600 0
028 D040600 114
028 E010600 7
028 E020600 0
028 E030600 0
028 E040600 7
028 F010600 1
028 F020600 0
028 F030600 0
028 F040600 1
028 G010600 9
028 G020600 114
028 G030600 7
028 G040600 116
028 H000600 9
029 000600 Y
030 A000600 0
030 B000600 5.75
030 C000600 0.00
045 000600 Y
046 000600 N
047 000600 Y
048 000600 0.000
048 A010600 500000
048 A020600 0.700
048 B010600 500000
048 B020600 0.600
048 C010600 500000
048 C020600 0.550
048 D010600 5000000
048 D020600 0.500
048 E010600 5000000
048 E020600 0.475
048 F010600 5000000
048 F020600 0.455
048 G010600 5000000
048 G020600 0.440
048 H010600 0
<PAGE> PAGE 9
048 H020600 0.000
048 I010600 0
048 I020600 0.000
048 J010600 0
048 J020600 0.000
048 K010600 21500000
048 K020600 0.430
062 A000600 N
062 B000600 0.0
062 C000600 0.0
062 D000600 0.0
062 E000600 0.0
062 F000600 0.0
062 G000600 0.0
062 H000600 0.0
062 I000600 0.0
062 J000600 0.0
062 K000600 0.0
062 L000600 0.0
062 M000600 0.0
062 N000600 0.0
062 O000600 0.0
062 P000600 0.0
062 Q000600 0.0
062 R000600 0.0
071 A000600 269
071 B000600 275
071 C000600 1858
071 D000600 15
072 A000600 6
074 N000600 2065
074 T000600 2039
075 A000600 0
075 B000600 1913
045 000700 Y
046 000700 N
047 000700 Y
048 000700 0.000
048 A010700 500000
048 A020700 1.200
048 B010700 500000
048 B020700 1.100
048 C010700 500000
048 C020700 1.050
048 D010700 5000000
048 D020700 1.000
048 E010700 5000000
048 E020700 0.975
048 F010700 5000000
048 F020700 0.955
048 G010700 5000000
<PAGE> PAGE 10
048 G020700 0.940
048 H010700 0
048 H020700 0.000
048 I010700 0
048 I020700 0.000
048 J010700 0
048 J020700 0.000
048 K010700 21500000
048 K020700 0.930
062 A000700 N
062 B000700 0.0
062 C000700 0.0
062 D000700 0.0
062 E000700 0.0
062 F000700 0.0
062 G000700 0.0
062 H000700 0.0
062 I000700 0.0
062 J000700 0.0
062 K000700 0.0
062 L000700 0.0
062 M000700 0.0
062 N000700 0.0
062 O000700 0.0
062 P000700 0.0
062 Q000700 0.0
062 R000700 0.0
071 A000700 23191
071 B000700 373
071 C000700 4039
071 D000700 9
072 A000700 9
074 N000700 33908
074 T000700 23449
075 A000700 0
075 B000700 2968
045 000800 Y
046 000800 N
047 000800 Y
048 000800 0.000
048 A010800 500000
048 A020800 1.200
048 B010800 500000
048 B020800 1.100
048 C010800 500000
048 C020800 1.050
048 D010800 5000000
048 D020800 1.000
048 E010800 5000000
048 E020800 0.975
048 F010800 5000000
<PAGE> PAGE 11
048 F020800 0.955
048 G010800 5000000
048 G020800 0.940
048 H010800 0
048 H020800 0.000
048 I010800 0
048 I020800 0.000
048 J010800 0
048 J020800 0.000
048 K010800 21500000
048 K020800 0.930
062 A000800 N
062 B000800 0.0
062 C000800 0.0
062 D000800 0.0
062 E000800 0.0
062 F000800 0.0
062 G000800 0.0
062 H000800 0.0
062 I000800 0.0
062 J000800 0.0
062 K000800 0.0
062 L000800 0.0
062 M000800 0.0
062 N000800 0.0
062 O000800 0.0
062 P000800 0.0
062 Q000800 0.0
062 R000800 0.0
071 A000800 2111
071 B000800 47
071 C000800 1979
071 D000800 2
072 A000800 2
072 Y000800 6
072 Z000800 1
072AA000800 0
072BB000800 1
072CC010800 155
072CC020800 0
072DD010800 0
072DD020800 0
072EE000800 0
073 A010800 0.0000
073 A020800 0.0000
073 B000800 0.0000
073 C000800 0.0000
074 N000800 2321
074 T000800 2252
075 A000800 0
075 B000800 2195
<PAGE> PAGE 12
045 000900 Y
046 000900 N
047 000900 Y
048 000900 0.000
048 A010900 500000
048 A020900 0.800
048 B010900 500000
048 B020900 0.700
048 C010900 500000
048 C020900 0.650
048 D010900 500000
048 D020900 0.600
048 E010900 500000
048 E020900 0.575
048 F010900 500000
048 F020900 0.555
048 G010900 500000
048 G020900 0.540
048 H010900 0
048 H020900 0.000
048 I010900 0
048 I020900 0.000
048 J010900 0
048 J020900 0.000
048 K010900 21500000
048 K020900 0.530
062 A000900 N
062 B000900 0.0
062 C000900 0.0
062 D000900 0.0
062 E000900 0.0
062 F000900 0.0
062 G000900 0.0
062 H000900 0.0
062 I000900 0.0
062 J000900 0.0
062 K000900 0.0
062 L000900 0.0
062 M000900 0.0
062 N000900 0.0
062 O000900 0.0
062 P000900 0.0
062 Q000900 0.0
062 R000900 0.0
071 A000900 3218
071 B000900 179
071 C000900 2024
071 D000900 9
072 A000900 2
072 Y000900 8
072 Z000900 4
<PAGE> PAGE 13
072AA000900 0
072BB000900 0
072CC010900 0
072CC020900 2
072DD010900 0
072DD020900 0
072EE000900 0
073 A010900 0.0000
073 A020900 0.0000
073 B000900 0.0000
073 C000900 0.0000
074 N000900 3108
074 T000900 3093
075 A000900 0
075 B000900 3079
045 001000 Y
046 001000 N
047 001000 Y
048 001000 0.000
048 A011000 500000
048 A021000 1.200
048 B011000 500000
048 B021000 1.100
048 C011000 500000
048 C021000 1.050
048 D011000 5000000
048 D021000 1.000
048 E011000 5000000
048 E021000 0.975
048 F011000 5000000
048 F021000 0.955
048 G011000 5000000
048 G021000 0.940
048 H011000 0
048 H021000 0.000
048 I011000 0
048 I021000 0.000
048 J011000 0
048 J021000 0.000
048 K011000 21500000
048 K021000 0.930
053 A001000 Y
053 B001000 Y
053 C001000 N
062 A001000 N
062 B001000 0.0
062 C001000 0.0
062 D001000 0.0
062 E001000 0.0
062 F001000 0.0
062 G001000 0.0
<PAGE> PAGE 14
062 H001000 0.0
062 I001000 0.0
062 J001000 0.0
062 K001000 0.0
062 L001000 0.0
062 M001000 0.0
062 N001000 0.0
062 O001000 0.0
062 P001000 0.0
062 Q001000 0.0
062 R001000 0.0
071 A001000 2087
071 B001000 32
071 C001000 1580
071 D001000 2
072 A001000 2
072 Y001000 6
072 Z001000 6
072AA001000 2
072BB001000 0
072CC011000 68
072CC021000 0
072DD011000 0
072DD021000 0
072EE001000 0
073 A011000 0.0000
073 A021000 0.0000
073 B001000 0.0000
073 C001000 0.0000
074 N001000 2175
074 T001000 2164
075 A001000 0
075 B001000 2109
045 001100 Y
046 001100 N
047 001100 Y
048 001100 0.000
048 A011100 500000
048 A021100 0.800
048 B011100 500000
048 B021100 0.700
048 C011100 500000
048 C021100 0.650
048 D011100 5000000
048 D021100 0.600
048 E011100 5000000
048 E021100 0.575
048 F011100 5000000
048 F021100 0.555
048 G011100 5000000
048 G021100 0.540
<PAGE> PAGE 15
048 H011100 0
048 H021100 0.000
048 I011100 0
048 I021100 0.000
048 J011100 0
048 J021100 0.000
048 K011100 21500000
048 K021100 0.530
062 A001100 N
062 B001100 0.0
062 C001100 0.0
062 D001100 0.0
062 E001100 0.0
062 F001100 0.0
062 G001100 0.0
062 H001100 0.0
062 I001100 0.0
062 J001100 0.0
062 K001100 0.0
062 L001100 0.0
062 M001100 0.0
062 N001100 0.0
062 O001100 0.0
062 P001100 0.0
062 Q001100 0.0
062 R001100 0.0
071 A001100 3222
071 B001100 101
071 C001100 2589
071 D001100 4
072 A001100 2
074 N001100 3165
074 T001100 3151
075 A001100 0
075 B001100 3137
SIGNATURE PAUL BUCUVALAS
TITLE VICE PRESIDENT
WARNING: THE EDGAR SYSTEM ENCOUNTERED ERROR(S) WHILE PROCESSING THIS SCHEDULE.
<TABLE> <S> <C>
<ARTICLE> 6
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM Putnam Real Estate Opportunities AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRET
Y BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<S> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> SEMI
<FISCAL-YEAR-END> AUG-31-1996
<PERIOD-END> FEB-29-1996
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST > 1,838,701 <INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE> 2,051,829
<RECEIVABLES> 12,883
<ASSETS-OTHER> 681
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS> 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 2,065,393
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES> 0
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT> 00
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES> 226,775
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES> 2,26,775
<SENIOR-EQUITY> 0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON> 1,756,097
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK> 205,066
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR> 192,702
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT> 8,961
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII> 0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS> 60,432
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS> 0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC> 213,128
<NET-ASSETS> 2,038,618
<DIVIDEND-INCOME> 55,841
<INTEREST-INCOME> 1,899
<OTHER-INCOME> 0
<EXPENSES-NET> 7,393
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME> 50,347
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT> 75,560
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT> 81,222
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS> 207,129
<EQUALIZATION> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME> (99,919)
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS> (13,451)
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER> 0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD> 930
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED> (690)
<SHARES-REINVESTED> 12,124
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS> 209,422
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR> 58,533
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR> 1,677
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES> 6,659
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0
<GROSS-EXPENSE> 8,917
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS> 1,913,124
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN> 9.49
<PER-SHARE-NII> .25
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC> .79
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND> 0
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS> (.59)
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL> 0
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END> 9.94
<EXPENSE-RATIO> .47
<AVG-DEBT-OUTSTANDING> 0
<AVG-DEBT-PER-SHARE> 0
??
</TABLE>
WARNING: THE EDGAR SYSTEM ENCOUNTERED ERROR(S) WHILE PROCESSING THIS SCHEDULE.
<TABLE> <S> <C>
<ARTICLE> 6
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM Putnam Japan Fund AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE
TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<S> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> YEAR
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>
<PERIOD-END> FEB-29-1996
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST > 3,127,114 <INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE> 3,095,027
<RECEIVABLES> 6,955
<ASSETS-OTHER> 63,059
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS> 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 3,165,031
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES> 0
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES> 14,005
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES> 14,005
<SENIOR-EQUITY> 0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON> 3,175,758
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK> 373,537
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR> 0
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT> 0
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII> 845
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS> 6,031
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS> 0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC> (29,918)
<NET-ASSETS> 3,151,026
<DIVIDEND-INCOME> 1,161
<INTEREST-INCOME> 4,508
<OTHER-INCOME> 0
<EXPENSES-NET> 6,514
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME> (845)
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT> 6,031
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT> (29,918)
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS> (24,732)
<EQUALIZATION> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER> 0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD> 59,976
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED> (36,380)
<SHARES-REINVESTED> 0
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS> 151,026
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR> 0
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES> 4,486
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0
<GROSS-EXPENSE> 7,784
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS> 3,136,798
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN> 8.50
<PER-SHARE-NII> 0
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC> (.06)
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND> 0
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS> 0
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL> 0
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END> 8.44
<EXPENSE-RATIO> .25
<AVG-DEBT-OUTSTANDING> 0
<AVG-DEBT-PER-SHARE> 0
??
</TABLE>
WARNING: THE EDGAR SYSTEM ENCOUNTERED ERROR(S) WHILE PROCESSING THIS SCHEDULE.
<TABLE> <S> <C>
<ARTICLE> 6
<LEGEND>
THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM Putnam International Fund AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY RE
FERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<S> <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE> YEAR
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>
<PERIOD-END> FEB-29-1996
<INVESTMENTS-AT-COST > 3,039,826 <INVESTMENTS-AT-VALUE> 3,037,814
<RECEIVABLES> 18,534
<ASSETS-OTHER> 51,488
<OTHER-ITEMS-ASSETS> 0
<TOTAL-ASSETS> 3,107,836
<PAYABLE-FOR-SECURITIES> 0
<SENIOR-LONG-TERM-DEBT> 0
<OTHER-ITEMS-LIABILITIES> 14,951
<TOTAL-LIABILITIES> 14,951
<SENIOR-EQUITY> 0
<PAID-IN-CAPITAL-COMMON> 3,090,534
<SHARES-COMMON-STOCK> 363,486
<SHARES-COMMON-PRIOR> 0
<ACCUMULATED-NII-CURRENT> 3,971
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-NII> 0
<ACCUMULATED-NET-GAINS> 405
<OVERDISTRIBUTION-GAINS> 0
<ACCUM-APPREC-OR-DEPREC> (2,025)
<NET-ASSETS> 3,092,885
<DIVIDEND-INCOME> 5,580
<INTEREST-INCOME> 5,833
<OTHER-INCOME> 0
<EXPENSES-NET> 7,442
<NET-INVESTMENT-INCOME> 3,971
<REALIZED-GAINS-CURRENT> 405
<APPREC-INCREASE-CURRENT> 2,025
<NET-CHANGE-FROM-OPS> 2,351
<EQUALIZATION> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-INCOME> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OF-GAINS> 0
<DISTRIBUTIONS-OTHER> 0
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-SOLD> 10,560
<NUMBER-OF-SHARES-REDEEMED> (15)
<SHARES-REINVESTED> 0
<NET-CHANGE-IN-ASSETS> 92,885
<ACCUMULATED-NII-PRIOR> 0
<ACCUMULATED-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDISTRIB-NII-PRIOR> 0
<OVERDIST-NET-GAINS-PRIOR> 0
<GROSS-ADVISORY-FEES> 4,242
<INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0
<GROSS-EXPENSE> 7,693
<AVERAGE-NET-ASSETS> 3,078,970
<PER-SHARE-NAV-BEGIN> 8.50
<PER-SHARE-NII> .01
<PER-SHARE-GAIN-APPREC> 0
<PER-SHARE-DIVIDEND> 0
<PER-SHARE-DISTRIBUTIONS> 0
<RETURNS-OF-CAPITAL> 0
<PER-SHARE-NAV-END> 8.51
<EXPENSE-RATIO> .25
<AVG-DEBT-OUTSTANDING> 0
<AVG-DEBT-PER-SHARE> 0
??
</TABLE>