JOHN HANCOCK INSTITUTIONAL SERIES TRUST
Supplement to Prospectus and Statement of Additional Information
dated July 1, 1997
John Hancock Global Bond Fund
INVESTMENT OBJECTIVE AND POLICIES
The Fund's investment policies are modified regarding lower-rated investments:
The second sentence of the fourth paragraph on page 9 of the Prospectus is
replaced with the following:
The Fund may, however, invest less than 35% of its total assets in fixed-income
debt securities rated, at the time of investment, as low as CCC by S&P or Caa by
Moody's or their respective equivalent ratings and unrated securities of
comparable credit quality.
The fourth sentence of the first paragraph on page 23 of the Statement of
Additional Information is replaced with the following:
Global Bond Fund may invest less than 35% of its total assets in securities
rated as low as CCC by S&P or Caa by Moody's and their equivalents.
September 10, 1997
KB00S 9/97
