Report 
 
      
Registrant:   Morgan Stanley Insured Municipal Securities — List all N-SARs

Semi-Annual Report (at mid-year) for the 1st-half period ended:  4/30/04

Were there any Answer File errors in the Filing?  None FoundNone Found by SEC InfoNot Checked by the FilerOne or more Found by SEC Info
Was the Answer File completed by the Registrant?  Yes

Is this an Amendment to a previous Report?  No
Is this a change to a previous Report?      No
 
Registrant 
 
 1.
SEC CIK:      913345
SEC File #:   811-07109

Telephone #:  212-762-5260
 
 2.
Address:      1221 Avenue of the Americas
              New York, NY  10020
 
 3.
Is this the first Form N-SAR filed by the Registrant?  No
 
 4.
Is this the final Form N-SAR filed by the Registrant?  No
 
 
Funds/Series 
↑Top of Form N-SAR 
     
                                                                               
 7.
Is the Registrant a Funds/Series (multiple portfolios) company?  No
 
Investment Adviser 
 
 8.1
Name:         Morgan Stanley Investment Advisors Inc.
Role:         Adviser
SEC File #:   801-42061
Location:     New York, NY
 
Shareholder Servicing/Transfer Agent 
 
12.1
Name:         Morgan Stanley Trust
SEC File #:   084-05710
Location:     Jersey City, NJ
 
Independent Public Accountant 
 
13.1
Name:         Deloitte & Touche LLP
Location:     New York, NY
 
Affiliated Broker/Dealer 
 
14.1
Name:         Arab Malaysia Securities
 
14.2
Name:         China International Capital Corp. Ltd.
 
14.3
Name:         HC Securities
 
14.4
Name:         JM MS Fixed Income Securities Private Ltd.
 
14.5
Name:         JM Morgan Stanley Private Ltd.
 
14.6
Name:         JM Morgan Stanley Securities Private Ltd.
 
14.7
Name:         JM Morgan Stanley Retail Services Private Ltd.
 
14.8
Name:         Morgan Stanley & Co. Inc.
SEC File #:   008-15869
 
14.9
Name:         Morgan Stanley & Co. Ltd.
 
14.10
Name:         Morgan Stanley Asia Ltd.
 
14.11
Name:         Morgan Stanley Canada Ltd.
 
14.12
Name:         Morgan Stanley Quilter Ltd.
 
14.13
Name:         MS Dean Witter Australia Securities Ltd.
 
14.14
Name:         Morgan Stanley Japan Ltd.
 
14.15
Name:         Morgan Stanley Nippon Securities, Ltd.
 
14.16
Name:         Morgan Stanley, S.V., S.A.
 
14.17
Name:         Morgan Stanley DW Inc.
SEC File #:   008-14172
 
14.18
Name:         Morgan Stanley International Ltd.
 
14.19
Name:         Morgan Stanley Securities Ltd.
 
14.20
Name:         Morgan Stanley Bank AG
 
14.21
Name:         Morgan Stanley Distribution Inc.
SEC File #:   008-44766
 
14.22
Name:         Morgan Stanley Distributors Inc.
SEC File #:   008-45262
 
14.23
Name:         Morgan Stanley Market Products Inc.
SEC File #:   008-37795
 
14.24
Name:         MS Securities Services Inc.
SEC File #:   008-26804
 
14.25
Name:         Prime Dealer Services Corp.
SEC File #:   008-47025
 
14.26
Name:         Van Kampen Funds Inc.
SEC File #:   008-19412
 
Custodian 
 
15.1
Name:         The Bank of New York
Role:         Custodian
Location:     New York, NY

Type of custody:  Section 17(f)(1) — Bank
 
18.
Does the Registrant’s/Series’ Custodian(s) maintain some or all of the
Registrant’s/Series’ securities in a central depository or book-entry
system pursuant to Rule 17f-4?  Yes
 
Family of Investment Companies 
 
19.
Is the Registrant/Series part of a “family” of investment companies?  Yes

Total number of registered management investment companies, Series
and portfolios (excluding any Unit Investment Trusts) in the family:  114

The Identification Code of the family for Form N-SAR Filings:  MORGANSTAN
 
Brokerage Commissions Paid on Portfolio Transactions 
 
20.
The brokers who received the largest amount of gross brokerage
commissions during the period:
 
20.1
Broker:       Goldman, Sachs & Co.
IRS #:        13-5108880
Commissions paid ($000s):  2
 
21.
Total brokerage commissions paid by the Registrant during the period:
  Aggregate paid ($000s):  2
 
Portfolio Transactions with Entities Acting as Principals 
 
22.
The entities acting as principals with whom the Registrant did the
largest amount of portfolio transactions, based on total value of
principal, during the period:
 
22.1
Entity:       Morgan (J.P.) Securities Inc.
IRS #:        13-3224016
Registrant’s purchases ($000s):  8,080
Registrant’s sales ($000s):  5,600
 
22.2
Entity:       Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Inc.
IRS #:        13-5674085
Registrant’s purchases ($000s):  6,640
Registrant’s sales ($000s):  1,870
 
22.3
Entity:       Edwards (A.G.) & Sons, Inc.
IRS #:        43-0895447
Registrant’s purchases ($000s):  1,100
Registrant’s sales ($000s):  3,000
 
22.4
Entity:       Branch Banking & Trust
IRS #:        54-0294670
Registrant’s sales ($000s):  1,115
 
22.5
Entity:       Lehman Brothers Inc.
IRS #:        13-2518466
Registrant’s purchases ($000s):  1,006
 
22.6
Entity:       Dain Rauscher Inc.
IRS #:        41-1416330
Registrant’s sales ($000s):  633
 
22.7
Entity:       Citigroup Inc.
IRS #:        52-1568099
Registrant’s sales ($000s):  556
 
22.8
Entity:       Fidelity Capital Markets
IRS #:        04-2653569
Registrant’s sales ($000s):  532
 
22.9
Entity:       Ryan, Beck & Co.
IRS #:        22-1773796
Registrant’s sales ($000s):  201
 
23.
Total purchase/sale transactions by the Registrant during the period:
   Aggregate purchases ($000s):  16,826
   Aggregate sales ($000s):  16,597
 
Holdings of Securities Issued by Registrant’s/Series’ Brokers or Dealers 
 
24.
At period end, did the Registrant/Series hold any securities of the
Registrant’s/Series’ regular brokers or dealers, or of the parents of
such brokers or dealers, that derive more than 15% of gross revenue from
securities-related activities?  No
 
Considerations which Affected the Participation of Brokers or Dealers 
 
26.
Considerations which affected the participation of brokers or dealers or
other entities in commissions or other compensation paid on portfolio
transactions of the Registrant:

Consideration?
Sales of the Registrant’s/Series’ shares ...............................  No
Receipt of investment research and statistical info ....................  Yes
Receipt of quotations for portfolio valuations .........................  Yes
Ability to execute portfolio transactions to obtain the best price
  and execution ........................................................  Yes
Receipt of telephone line and wire services ............................  No
Broker or Dealer which is an affiliated person .........................  Yes
An arrangement to return or credit part or all of commissions or
  profits thereon...
    To an Investment Adviser or Principal Underwriter, or to an
      affiliated person of either ......................................  No
    To the Registrant ..................................................  No
Other ..................................................................  No
 
Investment Company Type 
 
27.
Is the Registrant an “open-end” investment company?  No, Closed-End
 
Advisory Fee 
 
45.
Did the Registrant/Series have an advisory contract during the period?  Yes
 
46.
Did the Registrant/Series pay more than one Investment Adviser directly
for investment advice during the period?  No
 
47.
Was the Registrant’s/Series’ advisory fee based solely on a percentage
of its assets?  Yes
 
48.
Fee (single rate or step rates) applied to the Registrant’s/Series’
assets based on the advisory contract:
    Single-fee rate:  0.35%
    Step-fee rates:
      For 1st $000s:  0
        Annual rate:  0.0%
 
49.
Was the Registrant’s/Series’ advisory fee during the period based solely
on a percentage of its income?  No
 
50.
Was the Registrant’s/Series’ advisory fee during the period based on
some combined percentage of its income and assets?  No
 
51.
Was the Registrant’s/Series’ advisory fee during the period based in
whole or in part on its investment performance?  No
 
52.
Was the Registrant’s/Series’ advisory fee during the period based in
whole or in part on the assets, income or performance of other
Registrants?  No
 
53.
Were the expenses of the Registrant/Series limited or reduced at any
time during the period by some agreement or understanding other than by
Blue Sky Laws?  No
 
54.
Indicated below are whether services were supplied or paid for wholly or
in substantial part by Investment Adviser(s) or Administrator(s) in
connection with the advisory or administrative contract(s) but for which
the Adviser(s) or Administrator(s) are not reimbursed by the Registrant:

Provided to the Registrant?
Occupancy and office rental ............................................  Yes
Clerical and bookkeeping services ......................................  Yes
Accounting services ....................................................  Yes
Services of independent auditors .......................................  No
Services of outside counsel ............................................  No
Registration and filing fees ...........................................  No
Stationery, supplies and printing ......................................  Yes
Salaries & compensation of Registrant’s interested Directors ...........  Yes
Salaries & compensation of Registrant’s disinterested Directors ........  No
Salaries & compensation of Registrant’s Officers who aren’t Directors ..  Yes
Reports to current shareholders ........................................  No
Determination of offering and redemption prices ........................  Yes
Trading department .....................................................  Yes
Prospectus preparation and printing for current shareholders ...........  No
Other ..................................................................  Yes
 
Miscellaneous Info 
 
55.
Did the Registrant/Series have any of the following outstanding at any
time during the period which exceeded 1% of aggregate net assets:
    Overdrafts?  No
    Bank loans?  No
 
56.
During the period, did the Registrant’s/Series’ Investment Adviser(s)
have advisory clients other than investment companies?  Yes
 
57.
Did the Registrant/Series adjust the number of its shares outstanding by
means of a stock split or stock dividend?  No
 
Classification and Asset Allocation 
 
58.
Is the Registrant/Series a Separate Account of an insurance company?  No
 
59.
Is the Registrant/Series a management investment company?  Yes
 
60.
Was the Registrant/Series a diversified investment company at any time
during the period?  Yes

Was the Registrant/Series a diversified investment company at the end of
the period?  Yes
 
61.
The lowest minimum initial investment required by the Registrant/Series
from an investor that is not an employee or otherwise affiliated with
the Registrant/Series, its Investment Adviser, Principal Underwriter or
other affiliated entity:  $0
 
62.
Does the Registrant/Series invest primarily in debt securities,
including convertible debt securities, options & futures on debt
securities or indices of debt securities?  Yes

The percentage of net assets in each type at period end:

Debt — Short-Term Maturities
U.S. Treasury ...............................      0.0%
U.S. Government Agency ......................      0.0
Repurchase agreements .......................      0.0
State and Municipal – tax-free ..............      4.5
Bank certificates of deposit – domestic .....      0.0
Bank certificates of deposit – foreign ......      0.0
Bankers acceptances .........................      0.0
Commercial paper – taxable ..................      0.0
Time deposits ...............................      0.0
Options .....................................      0.0
All other ...................................      0.0

Debt — Intermediate & Long-Term Maturities
U.S. Treasury ...............................      0.0%
U.S. Government Agency ......................      0.0
State and Municipal – tax-free ..............    94.7
Corporate ...................................      0.0
All other ...................................      0.0

Non-Debt
Investments other than debt securities ......      0.0%
 
63.
The dollar-weighted average portfolio maturity at period end in days or,
if longer than one year, in years (to one decimal place):
    Days:     0
    Years:    18.0
 
64.
Is the timely payment of principal and interest on any of the
instruments listed in Item 62 insured or guaranteed by an entity other
than the issuer?  Yes

Is the issuer of any instrument covered in Item 62 delinquent or in
default as to payment of principal or interest at period end?  No
 
66.
Is the Registrant/Series a Fund that usually invests in equity
securities, options & futures on equity securities, indices of equity
securities or securities convertible into equity securities?  No
 
67.
Is the Registrant/Series a “balanced” Fund?  No
 
68.
Does the Registrant/Series have more than 50% of its net assets at
period end invested in the securities of issuers...
    Engaged primarily in production or distribution of precious metals?  No
    Located primarily in countries other than the United States?  No
 
69.
Is the Registrant/Series an index Fund?  No
 
Investment Practices 
 
70.
Activities that are permitted by the Registrant’s/Series’ investment
policies, and which were engaged in during the period:

Activity                                            Permitted Engaged In
Writing or investing in repurchase agreements?           Yes      No
Writing or investing in options on equities?             No        –
Writing or investing in options on debt securities?      Yes      No
Writing or investing in options on stock indices?        No        –
Writing or investing in interest rate futures?           Yes to both
Writing or investing in stock index futures?             No        –
Writing or investing in options on futures?              Yes      No
Writing or investing in options on stock index futures?  No        –
Writing or investing in other commodity futures?         No        –
Investments in restricted securities?                    Yes      No
Investments in shares of other investment companies?     Yes      No
Investments in securities of foreign issuers?            No        –
Currency exchange transactions?                          No        –
Loaning portfolio securities?                            Yes      No
Borrowing of money?                                      Yes      No
Purchases/sales by certain exempted affiliated persons?  Yes      No
Margin purchases?                                        No        –
Short selling?                                           No        –
 
Portfolio Turnover 
 
71.
Portfolio turnover rate for the period:
 
Purchases ($000s):  3,686
Sales ($000s):      9,523

Monthly average Value of portfolio ($000s):  111,252

Percent turnover (lesser of Purchases or Sales, divided by Value):  3%
 
Financial Info — Income and Expenses 
 
72.
The number of months covered by the values in Items 72 and 73:  6

Income  ($000s)
Net interest income ..............................................
 2,799
Net dividend income ..............................................
 –
Account maintenance fees .........................................
 –
Net other income .................................................
 –

Expenses  ($000s)
Advisory fees ....................................................
 202
Administrator fees ...............................................
 –
Salaries and other compensation ..................................
 –
Shareholder Servicing Agent fees .................................
 22
Custodian fees ...................................................
 5
Postage ..........................................................
 –
Printing expenses ................................................
 17
Directors’ fees ..................................................
 4
Registration fees ................................................
 7
Taxes ............................................................
 –
Interest .........................................................
 –
Bookkeeping fees paid to anyone performing this service ..........
 –
Auditing fees ....................................................
 19
Legal fees .......................................................
 13
Marketing/distribution payments, incl. Rule 12b-1 plan payments ..
 –
Amortization of organization expenses ............................
 –
Shareholder meeting expenses .....................................
 –
Other expenses ...................................................
 5
Total expenses ...................................................
 294

Expense reimbursements ($000s):   5

Net investment income ($000s):    2,510

Realized capital gains ($000s):   474
Realized capital losses ($000s):  1,497

Net unrealized appreciation during the period ($000s):  0
Net unrealized depreciation during the period ($000s):  335

Total income dividends for which the record date passed during the
period ($000s):  2,693

Total capital gains distributions for which the record date passed
during the period ($000s):  2,289
 
73.
Distributions per share for which the record date passed during the
period, shown in fractions of a cent, if so declared:

Dividends from net investment income:    $0.3600

Distribution of capital gains:  $0.3049
Other distributions:            $0.0000
 
Financial Info — Condensed Balance Sheet Data 
 
74.
Assets  ($000s)
Cash .............................................................
 22
Repurchase agreements ............................................
 –
Short-term debt securities, other than repurchase agreements .....
 5,070
Long-term debt securities, including convertible debt ............
 105,708
Preferred, conv. preferred and adjustable-rate preferred stock ...
 –
Common stock .....................................................
 –
Options on equities ..............................................
 –
Options on all futures ...........................................
 –
Other investments ................................................
 –
Receivables from portfolio instruments sold ......................
 178
Receivables from affiliated persons ..............................
 –
Other receivables ................................................
 1,855
All other assets .................................................
 11
Total assets .....................................................
 112,844

Liabilities  ($000s)
Payables for portfolio instruments purchased .....................
 1,006
Amounts owed to affiliated persons ...............................
 45
Senior long-term debt ............................................
 –
Other liabilities:
  Reverse repurchase agreements ..................................
 –
  Short sales ....................................................
 –
  Written options ................................................
 –
  All other liabilities ..........................................
 153

Equity  ($000s)
Senior equity ....................................................
 –
Net assets of common shareholders ................................
 111,640

Number of shares outstanding (000s):   7,432

Net Asset Value (NAV) per share (to nearest cent):  $15.02

Total number of shareholder accounts:  1,112

Total value of assets in segregated accounts ($000s):  141
 
75.
Monthly average net assets during the period ($000s):  115,338
 
76.
Market price per share at period end:  $13.40
 
Additional Disclosures 
 
77.
Did the Registrant file any additional Exhibits with the filing of this
Report (listed here and filed either herewith — as one of the ‘EX-99.*’
↑Exhibits in this Filing — or separately and incorporated by reference)?  Yes

EX-99.77O:  Transaction Effected — Rule 10f-3 – ICA’40?  Yes

EX-99.77Q1: Other Disclosure?  Yes
 
Subsidiaries 
 
78.
Does the Registrant have any wholly-owned investment company
subsidiaries whose operating and financial data are consolidated with
that of the Registrant in this Report?  No
 
Sales, Repurchases and Redemptions 
 
86.
Sales, repurchases and redemptions of the Registrant’s securities:
 
Common Stock
Sales:
    Number of shares (000s):   0
    Net consideration received ($000s):  0
Repurchases:
    Number of shares (000s):   90
    Net consideration paid ($000s):      1,296

Preferred Stock
Sales:
    Number of shares (000s):   0
    Net consideration received ($000s):  0
Repurchases and redemptions:
    Number of shares (000s):   0
    Net consideration paid ($000s):      0

Debt Securities
Sales:
    Principal amount ($000s):  0
    Net consideration received ($000s):  0
Repurchases and redemptions:
    Principal amount ($000s):  0
    Net consideration paid ($000s):      0
 
Securities Outstanding 
 
87.
Securities of the Registrant that are registered on a national
securities exchange or listed on Nasdaq:
 
Title of class:  Shares of Beneficial Interest
    CUSIP/CINS:  61745P·83·3
        Symbol:  IMS
 
88.
Did the Registrant have any of the following outstanding which exceeded
1% of aggregate net assets at any time during the period:

Notes or bonds?     No
Uncovered options?  No
Margin loans?       No
Preferred stock?    No
 
 Signature 
 
↑Top of Form N-SAR 
     
                                                                               
/s/      Thomas Smith      
Name:   Thomas Smith
Title:  Vice President