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                          American Balanced Fund, Inc.
                           One Market, Steuart Tower
                                   Suite 1800
                        San Francisco, California 94105
                              Phone (415) 421-9360



                CERTIFICATION PURSUANT TO 18 U.S.C. SECTION 1350,
                             AS ADOPTED PURSUANT TO
                  SECTION 906 OF THE SARBANES-OXLEY ACT OF 2002



ROBERT G.  O'DONNELL,  Chairman  and PEO,  and  DAYNA G.  YAMABE,  Treasurer  of
American  Balanced Fund, Inc., (the  "Registrant"),  each certify to the best of
his or her knowledge that:

1)   The  Registrant's  periodic  report  on Form  N-CSR  for the  period  ended
     December 31, 2004 (the "Form N-CSR") fully  complies with the  requirements
     of  Section  13(a) or  15(d) of the  Securities  Exchange  Act of 1934,  as
     amended; and

2)   The  information  contained  in the  Form  N-CSR  fairly  presents,  in all
     material respects, the financial condition and results of operations of the
     Registrant.


Principal Executive Officer                 Principal Financial Officer

AMERICAN BALANCED FUND, INC.                AMERICAN BALANCED FUND, INC.


/s/ Robert G. O'Donnell                     /s/ Dayna G. Yamabe
Robert G. O'Donnell, Chairman               Dayna G. Yamabe, Treasurer

Date: March 10, 2005                        Date: March 10, 2005


A signed original of this written statement required by Section 906 of the
Sarbanes-Oxley Act of 2002 has been provided to AMERICAN BALANCED FUND, INC. and
will be retained by AMERICAN BALANCED FUND, INC. and furnished to the Securities
and Exchange Commission (the "Commission") or its staff upon request.

This certification is being furnished to the Commission solely pursuant to 18
U.S.C. Section 1350 and is not being filed as part of the Form N-CSR filed with
the Commission.