<ARTICLE>                        5
<CIK>                            0001051830
<NAME>                           MERRILL LYNCH PREFERRED CAPITAL TRUST IV
       
                              
<PERIOD-TYPE>                    OTHER
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                           DEC-25-1998
<PERIOD-START>                              JUN-19-1997
<PERIOD-END>                                SEP-25-1998
<CASH>                                                0
<SECURITIES>                                412,372,000
<RECEIVABLES>                                 8,237,543
<ALLOWANCES>                                          0
<INVENTORY>                                           0
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                            420,609,543
<PP&E>                                                0
<DEPRECIATION>                                        0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                              420,609,543
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                         8,237,543
<BONDS>                                               0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                 0
<PREFERRED>                                 400,000,000
<COMMON>                                     12,372,000
<OTHER-SE>                                            0
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                420,609,543
<SALES>                                               0
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                              8,237,543
<CGS>                                                 0
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                         0
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                      0
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                      0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                    0
<INCOME-PRETAX>                               8,237,543
<INCOME-TAX>                                          0
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                           8,237,543
<DISCONTINUED>                                        0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                       0
<CHANGES>                                             0
<NET-INCOME>                                  8,237,543
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                         0
<EPS-DILUTED>                                         0