New Perspective Fund – ‘N-30D’ for 3/31/97

As of:  Thursday, 6/5/97   ·   For:  3/31/97   ·   Accession #:  71516-97-14   ·   File #:  811-02333

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Annual or Semi-Annual Report Mailed to Shareholders   —   Rule 30d-1
Filing Table of Contents

Document/Exhibit                   Description                      Pages   Size 

 1: N-30D       Annual or Semi-Annual Report Mailed to                23±    99K 
                          Shareholders                                           


New Perspective Fund                                                            

Semi-Annual Report                                                              
for the six months ended March 31, 1997                                         

[cover:  photo of world]                                                        

[The American Funds Group(r)]                                                   

New Perspective Fund (r) seeks long-term growth of capital through investments  
all over the world, including the United States.                                

About our cover:  The world ca. 1535 (Bibliotheque Nationale de France).        

Fund results in this report were computed without a sales charge unless         
otherwise indicated. Here are the total returns and average annual compound     
returns with all distributions reinvested for periods ended March 31, 1997,     
assuming payment of the 5.75% maximum sales charge at the beginning of the      
stated periods (sales charges are lower for accounts of $50,000 or more):       

                                                                [Download Table]

                  Total              Average Annual 

                  Return             Compound Return

                                                    
10 years           +199.26%          +11.58%        

 5 years           + 85.37%          +13.14%        

12 months          +  8.40%          -              


The figures in this report reflect past results and are not predictive of       
future results. Share price and return will vary, so you may lose money by      
investing in the fund. The shorter the time period of your investment, the      
greater the possibility of loss. Fund shares are not deposits or obligations    
of, or insured or guaranteed by, the U.S. government, any financial             
institution, the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, or any other agency,    
entity or person.                                                               

Fellow Shareholders:                                                            

New Perspective Fund posted a sizable gain during the first half of its 1997    
fiscal year. For the six months ended March 31, the value of your investment    
rose 10.6% if, like most shareholders, you reinvested the income dividend of 23 
cents a share and the capital gain distribution of 68 cents a share, both of    
which were paid in December.                                                    

The fund's +10.6% total return outpaced the broad unmanaged global stock market 
indexes and most global stock funds for the six-month period. The Morgan        
Stanley Capital International (MSCI) World Index, which measures 22 major       
markets including the U.S., gained 5.1% with dividends reinvested. On the same  
basis, the 179 global stock funds tracked by Lipper Analytical Services rose an 
average of 5.3%.                                                                

During this six-month reporting period, all but two of the world's major        
markets recorded positive results. The exceptions were Japan, where the fund    
had relatively few investments, and Singapore, where the fund had none. A       
breakdown of the portfolio by country is shown on page 2.                       

In the United States, where the fund had the largest concentration of assets,   
stocks rose 11.4%* as measured by the unmanaged MSCI USA Index. The combined    
forces of moderate economic growth, rising corporate profits and continued low  
inflation once again created a favorable environment for stocks, although the   
Federal Reserve Board's tightening of monetary policy toward the end of the     
fiscal period introduced a new measure of uncertainty and volatility into the   
equation. Elsewhere in North America, the Canadian stock market rose 12.2%      
measured in Canadian dollars and 10.7% when those gains were translated into    
U.S. dollars; Mexico's stock market rose 16.4% in local currency and 10.8% in   
dollars.                                                                        

In Europe, markets were buoyed by factors related, at least in part, to the     
movement toward European economic and monetary union. Interest rates declined,  
with yields in smaller countries moving closer to those of their larger         
neighbors. Efforts continued toward reducing fiscal deficits, deregulating      
industries and opening markets. There was also a broad focus on the part of     
many companies on restructuring operations to enhance competitiveness in an     
increasingly global economy.                                                    

A number of markets posted double-digit gains in local currency and in U.S.     
dollars, despite a strengthening in the value of the dollar. The fund had       
significant holdings in companies domiciled in France (where stock prices rose  
25.7% in local currency or 15.3% in U.S. dollars), Sweden (+36.6% in local      
currency, +20.1% in U.S. dollars) and the Netherlands (+29.6% in local          
currency, +18.2% in U.S. dollars). The fund also had sizable investments in the 
United Kingdom, where a stronger British pound enhanced returns for U.S.        
investors (+10.3% in local currency, +15.9% in U.S. dollars). With more than a  
third of the fund's assets invested in Europe, the fund was well positioned to  
take advantage of broad market strength throughout the region.                  

In Asia and the Pacific Rim, where investments make up 9.6% of the fund's net   
assets, returns were often disappointing amid uncertain political developments, 
slower economic growth and ongoing concerns over the health of the Japanese     
economy. Stock prices in Japan fell 13.2% in local currency. Prices were off    
even more in U.S. dollars (-21.9%) due to the weakness of the yen. NPF's        
investments in Japan, at 4% of net assets, were considerably less than a global 
indexed portfolio would have held. A portfolio structured to reflect the size   
of each country's stock market would have about 15% invested there. We continue 
to search for attractive investment opportunities in Japan and, over the past   
six months, made several purchases. The fund also had investments in Australia  
(+7.6% in local currency, +6.6% in U.S. dollars) as well as Hong Kong and New   
Zealand, which posted more modest gains.                                        

All in all, the 232 equity-type securities that were held over the course of    
the six-month period were diversified across 24 countries on six continents. Of 
these, 162 rose in price, 69 declined and one was unchanged. In addition to the 
fund's broad geographic diversification, holdings were well diversified by      
industry. The portfolio listing that begins on page 4 shows investments in 34   
industries, of which health & personal care, telecommunications and banking     
remain the three largest.                                                       

Industry concentrations in New Perspective, like country concentrations, are a  
result of judgments on the outlook for individual companies. While these        
concentrations often worked to our advantage during the first half of fiscal    
1997, a key factor behind NPF's strong advance was the fact that we tended to   
have relatively large investments in individual companies whose stocks did well 
and more modest investments in companies that did poorly.                       

Large holdings that significantly contributed to the fund's results include     
U.S.-based companies such as Philip Morris, Advanced Micro Devices and Micron   
Technology; German automakers Daimler-Benz and BMW; Royal Bank of Canada and    
Bank of Nova Scotia; telecommunications firms and telecommunications equipment  
suppliers Telefonica de Espana (Spain), Telefonos de Mexico, Nokia (Finland)    
and Ericsson (Sweden); and oil services giant Schlumberger (Netherlands         
Antilles). Several of these holdings - Nokia, Ericsson and Micron Technology -  
had made very positive contributions to the fund's results before experiencing  
setbacks in fiscal 1996. As you know, NPF takes a long-term view when investing 
and often holds stocks that are out of favor if it believes attractive          
fundamentals remain in place.                                                   

New Perspective Fund's latest six-month results bring its 12-month total return 
through March 31, 1997 to +15.0% versus +9.8% for the MSCI World Index and      
+11.1% for the Lipper average of global funds.                                  

Over longer periods, NPF has also outpaced the unmanaged global index and the   
Lipper average of global funds:                                                 

Average Annual Compound Returns                                                 

                                                                [Download Table]

                                                                               
                        5 years            10 years             Lifetime       
                        4/1/92-3/31/97     4/1/87-3/31/97       3/13/73-3/31/97
New Perspective                                                                
  Fund                  +14.5%             +12.2%                +14.7%        
MSCI World Index        +13.4%             +9.0%                 +11.5%        
Global funds                                                                   
   average              +11.9%             + 9.9%                +14.0%        

Global funds average calculated by Lipper Analytical Services. Results assume   
distributions were reinvested.                                                  

Your fund's investment analysts and portfolio counselors continue to identify   
promising investment opportunities around the world. We look forward to         
reporting to you again in six months.                                           

Cordially,                                                                      

/s/Walter P. Stern                                                              
Walter P. Stern                                                                 
Chairman of the Board                                                           

/s/Gina H. Despres                                                              
Gina H. Despres                                                                 
President                                                                       

May 12, 1997                                                                    

* Returns for individual markets are with dividends reinvested.                 

Where NPF's Assets Were Invested                                                
(percent invested by country)                                                   

                                                                [Download Table]

                                                          
                                 3/31/97         9/30/96  
Asia/Pacific Rim                    9.6%            9.8%  
Japan                               4.0             3.1   
Australia                           3.0             3.6   
Hong Kong                           1.2             1.6   
New Zealand                         1.2             1.5   
Taiwan                              .2              -     
Europe                              35.0%           37.8% 
United Kingdom                      6.4             7.2   
France                              6.4             7.3   
Sweden                              5.1             5.9   
Netherlands                         4.2             4.2   
Switzerland                         3.4             3.5   
Germany                             3.3             4.8   
Spain                               2.7             2.0   
Finland                             1.3             1.3   
Italy                               1.3             .7    
Denmark                             .4              .4    
Norway                              .4              .4    
Luxembourg                          .1              .1    
North America                       39.5%           35.2% 
United States                       32.7            28.3  
Canada                              5.5             5.4   
Mexico                              1.3             1.5   
Other countries                     4.0%            3.0%  
Cash & equivalents                  11.9%           14.2% 
                                    100.0%          100.0%

                                                        [Enlarge/Download Table]
                                                                                                
New Perspective Fund                                                                  Unaudited 
Investment Portfolio, March 31, 1997                                                            
----------------------------                      ----------------------------                  
                                                      Percent of                                
Largest Industry Holdings                             Net Assets                                
----------------------------                      ----------------------------                  
Health & Personal Care                                          9.08%                           
Telecommunications                                              8.19%                           
Banking                                                         6.57%                           
Broadcasting & Publishing                                       5.62%                           
Electronic Components                                           4.78%                           
Other Industries                                               53.65%                           
Bonds, Cash & Equivalents                                      12.11%                           

----------------------------                      ----------------------------                  
                                                      Percent of                                
Ten Largest Stocks                                    Net Assets                                
----------------------------                      ----------------------------                  
Philip Morris                                                   2.08%                           
Time Warner                                                      2.03                           
Novartis                                                         1.99                           
Astra                                                            1.83                           
Advanced Micro Devices                                           1.53                           
Caterpillar                                                      1.51                           
Telefonica de Espana                                             1.47                           
Micron Technology                                                1.42                           
Mannesmann                                                       1.42                           
ABB                                                              1.34                           

-----------------------------------------               ------------   ------------ ------------
                                                           Shares or         Market    Percent  
                                                           Principal          Value      of Net 
Equity-Type Securities                                        Amount     (Millions)      Assets 
-----------------------------------------               ------------   ------------ ------------

Health & Personal Care - 9.08%                                                                  
Novartis AG (Switzerland)                                     218,881        271.624       1.99 
AB Astra, Class A (Sweden)                                  2,000,000         95.436            
AB Astra, Class A (American Depositary                                                          
 Receipts)                                                    155,000          7.207            
AB Astra, Class B                                           3,200,000        147.608       1.83 
Pfizer Inc (USA)                                            2,119,000        178.261       1.30 
Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd.                                                             
 (American Depositary Receipts) (Israel)                    2,200,000        122.100        .89 
SmithKline Beecham PLC (American                                                                
 Depositary Receipts) (United Kingdom)                      1,100,000         77.000        .56 
Merck & Co., Inc. (USA)                                       880,000         74.140        .54 
Johnson & Johnson (USA)                                       800,000         42.300        .31 
Glaxo Wellcome PLC (United Kingdom)                           563,264         10.337            
Glaxo Wellcome PLC (American Depositary                                                         
 Receipts)                                                    854,000         30.210        .30 
Genentech, Inc., Callable Putable Common Stock (US            600,000         34.275        .25 
Kimberly-Clark Corp. (USA)                                    300,000         29.812        .22 
Zeneca Group PLC (United Kingdom)                           1,000,000         28.970        .21 
Sankyo Co., Ltd. (Japan)                                    1,000,000         27.580        .20 
Alza Corp. (USA)/1/                                         1,000,000         27.500        .20 
Abbott Laboratories (USA)                                     400,000         22.450        .17 
Gillette Co. (USA)                                            203,400         14.772        .11 

Telecommunications - 8.19%                                                                      
Telefonica de Espana, SA (Spain)                            7,906,000        195.829            
Telefonica de Espana, SA (American                                                              
 Depositary Receipts)                                          76,000          5.453       1.47 
STET-Societa Finanziaria Telefonica p.a.,                                                       
 ordinary shares (Italy)                                   23,690,000        106.078            
STET-Societa Finanziaria Telefonica p.a.,                                                       
 nonconvertible savings shares                             16,500,000         59.828       1.21 
Telefonos de Mexico, SA de CV, Class L                                                          
 (American Depositary Receipts) (Mexico)                    3,134,530        120.679        .88 
Vodafone Group PLC (American Depositary                                                         
 Receipts) (United Kingdom)                                 2,080,000         91.780        .67 
Telecom Corp. of New Zealand Ltd.                                                               
 (New Zealand)                                             13,678,100         62.266            
Telecom Corp. of New Zealand Ltd./2/                        5,135,400         23.378        .63 
AirTouch Communications (USA)/1/                            3,500,000         80.500        .59 
MCI Communications Corp. (USA)                              2,225,000         79.266        .58 
Koninklijke PTT Nederland NV                                                                    
 (Netherlands)                                              1,629,500         60.365        .44 
Tele Danmark AS, Class B (Denmark)                            375,000         19.700            
Tele Danmark AS, Class B (American                                                              
 Depositary Receipts)                                       1,233,700         32.230        .38 
AT&T Corp. (USA)                                            1,435,000         49.866        .37 
British Telecommunications PLC (United Kingdom)             6,000,000         43.936        .32 
Hong Kong Telecommunications Ltd. (Hong                                                         
 Kong)                                                     19,564,529         33.457            
Hong Kong Telecommunications Ltd.                                                               
 (American Depositary Receipts)                               440,759          7.217        .30 
Sprint Corp. (USA)                                            800,000         36.400        .27 
Telecomunicacoes Brasileiras SA, preferred                                                      
 nominative (American Depositary Receipts) (Brazil             76,439          7.825        .06 
DDI Corp. (Japan)                                                 500          3.158        .02 

Banking - 6.57%                                                                                 
Royal Bank of Canada (Canada)                               3,717,000        144.253       1.06 
Westpac Banking Corp. (Australia)                          18,326,389        106.336            
Westpac Banking Corp., warrants,                                                                
 expire 20001                                               3,000,000         13.761        .88 
Bank of Nova Scotia (Canada)                                3,129,500        115.120        .84 
Citicorp (USA)                                                850,000         92.012        .67 
BankAmerica Corp. (USA)                                       675,000         68.006        .50 
Banco de Santander, SA (Spain)                                700,000         49.015            
Banco de Santander, SA (American                                                                
 Depositary Receipts)                                         240,000         16.320        .48 
Cie. Financiere de Paribas,                                                                     
 Class A (France)                                             750,000         52.282        .38 
Barclays PLC (United Kingdom)                               3,100,000         52.025        .38 
Banque Nationale de Paris (France)                          1,000,000         44.510        .33 
Cie. de Suez (France)                                         800,000         41.417        .30 
Australia and New Zealand Banking Group                                                         
 Ltd. (Australia)                                           6,496,411         41.158        .30 
Republic New York Corp. (USA)                                 370,000         32.606        .24 
ABN AMRO Holding NV (Netherlands)                             418,240         28.758        .21 

Broadcasting & Publishing - 5.62%                                                               
Time Warner Inc. (USA)                                      6,406,225        277.069       2.03 
News Corp. Ltd. (Australia)                                 3,937,290         18.369            
News Corp. Ltd. (American Depositary                                                            
 Receipts)                                                  3,991,600         71.849            
News Corp. Ltd., preferred shares                           2,003,607          7.855            
News Corp. Ltd., preferred shares                                                               
 (American Depositary Receipts)                             1,995,800         29.688        .94 
Viacom Inc., Class B (USA)/1/                               3,790,000        125.544        .92 
CANAL + (France)                                              262,236         51.616        .38 
Carlton Communications PLC (United                                                              
 Kingdom)                                                   4,890,000         41.957        .31 
U S WEST Media Group (USA)/1/                               1,900,000         35.388        .26 
Elsevier NV (Netherlands)                                   1,700,000         27.637        .20 
Grupo Televisa, SA, Ordinary Participation Certificates                                         
 (American Depositary Receipts) (Mexico)/1/                   825,000         20.522        .15 
Pearson PLC (United Kingdom)                                1,700,000         20.370        .15 
Wolters Kluwer NV (Netherlands)                               162,516         19.568        .14 
AUDIOFINA (Luxembourg)                                        415,300         18.518        .14 
                                                                   .                            

Electronic Components - 4.78%                                                                   
Advanced Micro Devices, Inc. (USA)/1/                       5,036,900        209.031       1.53 
Micron Technology, Inc. (USA)                               4,800,000        194.400       1.42 
Seagate Technology (USA)/1/                                 1,300,000         58.338        .43 
Intel Corp. (USA)                                             400,000         55.650        .41 
Arrow Electronics, Inc. (USA)/1/                              880,000         49.610        .36 
Analog Devices, Inc. (USA)/1/                               1,710,000         38.475        .28 
Electrocomponents PLC (United Kingdom)                      3,000,000         19.749        .14 
Murata Manufacturing Co., Ltd. (Japan)                        536,000         19.248        .14 
Kyocera Corp. (Japan)                                         176,000          9.993        .07 
                                                                   .                            

Automobiles - 4.61%                                                                             
Honda Motor Co., Ltd. (Japan)                               4,485,000        133.854        .98 
Regie Nationale des Usines Renault, SA (France)             4,847,783        122.683        .90 
Volvo AB, Class B (Sweden)                                  3,770,000        102.691        .75 
Daimler-Benz AG (Germany)/1/                                  270,000         21.587            
Daimler-Benz AG, 4.125% convertible                                                             
 debentures 2003 /2/                                    DM76,101,000          64.767        .63 
Bayerische Motoren Werke AG (Germany)                          69,500         56.233            
Bayerische Motoren Werke AG, preferred                                                          
 shares                                                        20,318         11.386        .49 
Ford Motor Co., Class A (USA)                               1,500,000         47.062        .34 
Toyota Motor Corp. (Japan)                                  1,855,000         46.960        .34 
General Motors Corp. (USA)                                    300,000         16.612        .12 
Suzuki Motor Corp. (Japan)                                    800,000          7.764        .06 

Electrical & Electronics - 4.30%                                                                
ABB AB, Class A (Sweden)                                      115,000         12.911            
ABB AB, Class B                                               760,000         85.023            
ABB AB, Class B (American Depositary Receipts)                250,000         27.063            
ABB AG, Class A (Switzerland)                                  47,957         57.647       1.34 
Nokia Corp., Class A (Finland)                                480,000         29.088            
Nokia Corp., Class A (American Depositary                                                       
 Receipts)                                                  1,450,000         84.463            
Nokia Corp., Class K                                          460,000         27.598       1.03 
Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson, Class B                                                        
 (Sweden)                                                   2,376,000         82.987            
Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson, Class B                                                        
 (American Depositary Receipts)                               800,000         27.050        .81 
Siemens AG (Germany)                                          565,000         30.443        .22 
Northern Telecom Ltd. (Canada)                                457,300         29.896        .22 
York International Corp. (USA)                                604,500         25.313        .19 
General Instrument Corp. (USA)/1/                           1,055,200         24.138        .18 
Alcatel Alsthom (France)                                      200,000         24.132        .18 
Lucent Technologies Inc. (USA)                                168,523          8.890        .07 
Hitachi, Ltd. (Japan)                                         900,000          8.007        .06 

Beverages & Tobacco - 3.89%                                                                     
Philip Morris Companies Inc. (USA)                          2,485,000        283.601       2.08 
Seagram Co. Ltd. (Canada)                                   2,600,000         99.450        .73 
LVMH Moet Hennessy Louis Vuitton (France)                     280,000         68.069        .50 
PepsiCo, Inc. (USA)                                         1,000,000         32.625        .24 
Lion Nathan Ltd. (New Zealand)                             12,950,000         30.781        .23 
American Brands, Inc. (USA)                                   300,000         15.188        .11 

Chemicals - 3.87%                                                                               
Praxair, Inc. (USA)                                         2,579,300        115.746        .85 
E.I. du Pont de Nemours and Co. (USA)                         675,000         71.550        .52 
AGA AB, Class A (Sweden)                                    2,120,000         31.754            
AGA AB, Class B                                             1,800,000         26.603        .43 
Sherwin-Williams Co. (USA)                                  1,962,000         52.974        .39 
Methanex Corp. (Canada)                                     6,250,000         52.396        .38 
Georgia Gulf Corp. (USA) /3/                                1,975,000         49.869        .37 
Valspar Corp. (USA)                                         1,160,000         33.350        .24 
Bayer AG (Germany)                                            600,000         24.957        .18 
Hoechst AG (Germany)                                          500,000         20.243        .15 
L'Air Liquide (France)                                        110,097         17.419        .13 
Engelhard Corp. (USA)                                         813,100         17.075        .13 
Ciba Specialty Chemicals Holdings (Switzerland)               165,781         13.708        .10 

Energy Sources - 3.71%                                                                          
TOTAL, Class B (France)                                       131,077         11.358            
TOTAL, Class B (American Depositary                                                             
 Receipts)                                                  3,109,814        131.778       1.05 
Royal Dutch Petroleum Co. (New York                                                             
 Registered Shares) (Netherlands)                             463,000         81.025            
Shell Transport and Trading Co., PLC (United Kingd          1,000,000         17.456        .72 
Repsol SA (Spain)                                           2,000,000         85.471            
Repsol SA (American Depositary Receipts)                      305,000         12.429        .72 
Societe Nationale Elf Aquitaine (France)                      400,000         41.075        .30 
Phillips Petroleum Co. (USA)                                  950,000         38.831        .28 
Anadarko Petroleum Corp. (USA)                                650,000         36.481        .27 
YPF SA, Class D (American Depositary                                                            
 Receipts) (Argentina)                                      1,200,000         31.800        .23 
Broken Hill Proprietary Co. Ltd. (Australia)                1,480,441         19.734        .14 

Food & Household Products - 3.36%                                                               
Nestle SA (Switzerland)                                        89,782        105.116        .77 
Cadbury Schweppes PLC (United Kingdom)                     10,865,090         96.438        .71 
Unilever NV (Netherlands)                                     335,000         65.425            
Unilever PLC (United Kingdom)                                 660,000         17.520        .61 
Reckitt & Colman PLC (United Kingdom)                       6,056,250         81.429        .60 
Groupe Danone (France)                                        443,586         70.418        .52 
Colgate-Palmolive Co. (USA)                                   200,000         19.925        .15 

Machinery & Engineering - 3.30%                                                                 
Caterpillar Inc. (USA)                                      2,575,000        206.644       1.51 
Mannesmann AG (Germany)                                       507,500        194.058       1.42 
Deere & Co. (USA)                                             780,000         33.930        .25 
Kawasaki Heavy Industries, Ltd. (Japan)                     4,200,000         16.339        .12 

Multi-Industry - 3.04%                                                                          
Hutchison Whampoa Ltd. (Hong Kong)                         13,281,000         99.845        .73 
Lend Lease Corp. Ltd. (Australia)                           4,058,860         69.571        .51 
Williams Holdings PLC (United Kingdom)                     10,000,000         55.064        .40 
LTV Corp. (USA)                                             4,225,000         53.341        .39 
FMC Corp. (USA)/1/                                            650,000         39.813        .29 
B.A.T Industries PLC (United Kingdom)                       3,466,250         29.484        .22 
Canadian Pacific Ltd. (Canada)                                800,000         19.200        .14 
Siebe PLC (United Kingdom)                                    900,000         15.178        .11 
AlliedSignal Inc. (USA)                                       200,000         14.250        .10 
Lagardere Groupe SCA (France)                                 420,000         13.604        .10 
Incentive AB, Class B (Sweden)                                 97,900          6.644        .05 

Forest Products & Paper - 1.95%                                                                 
Champion International Corp. (USA)                          2,200,000        100.100        .73 
Louisiana-Pacific Corp. (USA)                               2,399,500         49.790        .36 
UPM-Kymmene Corp. (Finland)/1/                              1,953,000         43.055        .32 
International Paper Co. (USA)                                 400,000         15.550        .11 
Jefferson Smurfit Corp. (USA)/1/                            1,255,700         14.911        .11 
Rayonier Inc. (USA)                                           400,000         14.900        .11 
Carter Holt Harvey Ltd. (New Zealand)                       6,900,000         14.626        .11 
Weyerhaeuser Co. (USA)                                        300,000         13.388        .10 

Insurance - 1.81%                                                                               
ING Groep NV (Netherlands)                                  4,311,018        169.812       1.24 
American International Group, Inc. (USA)                      516,562         60.631        .44 
 Societe Centrale des Assurances                                                                
Generales de France (France)                                  485,000         17.763        .13 

Gold Mines - 1.77%                                                                              
Placer Dome Inc. (Canada)                                   4,600,000         83.375        .61 
Newmont Mining Corp. (USA)                                  2,000,000         77.500        .57 
Barrick Gold Corp. (Canada)                                 2,200,000         52.250        .38 
Gold Fields of South Africa Ltd. (South Africa)             1,200,000         29.056        .21 

Metals: Nonferrous - 1.74%                                                                      
Aluminum Co. of America (USA)                                 950,000         64.600        .47 
Alumax Inc. (USA)/1/                                        1,200,000         41.550        .30 
WMC Ltd. (Australia)                                        6,125,343         38.711        .28 
Alcan Aluminium Ltd. (Canada)                               1,100,000         37.263        .27 
Pechiney, Class A (France)                                    563,499         22.915        .17 
Inco Ltd. (Canada)                                            600,000         19.575        .14 
Teck Corp., Class B (Canada)                                  700,000         15.303        .11 

Energy Equipment - 1.72%                                                                        
Schlumberger Ltd. (Netherlands Antilles)                    1,273,300        136.561       1.00 
Halliburton Co. (USA)                                         635,000         43.021        .31 
Baker Hughes Inc. (USA)                                       954,267         36.620        .27 
Western Atlas Inc. (USA)/1/                                   324,200         19.655        .14 

Leisure & Tourism - 1.33%                                                                       
Carnival Corp., Class A (USA)                               3,400,000        125.800        .92 
Walt Disney Co. (USA)                                         670,000         48.910        .36 
Euro Disney SCA (France)/1/                                 3,870,000          6.887            
Euro Disney SCA, warrants, expire 2004/1/                     760,000           .164        .05 

Recreation & Other Consumer Products - 1.20%                                                    
Mattel, Inc. (USA)                                          1,900,000         45.600        .33 
Fuji Photo Film Co., Ltd. (Japan)                           1,000,000         32.918        .24 
Nintendo Co., Ltd. (Japan)                                    350,000         25.137        .18 
PolyGram NV (New York Registered Shares)                                                        
 (Netherlands)                                                427,400         21.049        .15 
Eastman Kodak Co. (USA)                                       200,000         15.175        .11 
EMI Group PLC (United Kingdom)                                764,205         14.006        .10 
Hasbro, Inc. (USA)                                            452,700         12.393        .09 

Merchandising - 1.18%                                                                           
Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. (USA)                                 4,150,000        115.681        .85 
Home Depot, Inc. (USA)                                        315,000         16.853        .12 
Cifra, SA de CV, Class A (Mexico)/1/                        3,770,139          5.210            
Cifra, SA de CV, Class B/1/                                 4,500,000          6.252            
Cifra, SA de CV, Class C/1/                                 3,384,800          4.703        .12 
Ito-Yokado Co., Ltd. (Japan)                                  185,000          8.230        .06 
WHSmith Group PLC, Class A (United                                                              
 Kingdom)                                                     500,000          3.707        .03 

Appliances & Household Durables - 1.16%                                                         
Philips Electronics NV (Netherlands)                        1,400,000         65.295            
Philips Electronics NV (New York                                                                
 Registered Shares)                                           400,000         17.800            
Philips Electronics NV, warrants, expire 1998/1/              500,000         14.125        .71 
AB Electrolux, Class B (Sweden)                               633,000         39.435        .29 
Sony Corp. (Japan)                                            321,700         22.507        .16 
SANYO Electric Co. Ltd. (Japan)                                28,000           .106        .00 

Business & Public Services - 0.93%                                                              
Electronic Data Systems Holding Corp. (USA)                   800,000         32.300        .24 
United Utilities PLC (United Kingdom)                       3,000,000         30.967        .23 
Cie. Generale des Eaux (France)                               203,808         27.747        .20 
WMX Technologies, Inc. (USA)                                  600,000         18.375        .13 
Reuters Holdings PLC (American Depositary                                                       
 Receipts) (United Kingdom)                                   200,000         11.638        .09 
Thorn PLC (United Kingdom)                                  1,518,940          4.182        .03 
NCR Corp. (USA)/1/                                             45,000          1.586        .01 
Eurotunnel SA, units, comprised of one                                                          
 share of Eurotunnel SA ordinary and one                                                        
 share of Eurotunnel PLC ordinary                                                               
 (France)/1/                                                   99,900           .117        .00 

Utilities: Electric & Gas - 0.91%                                                               
National Power PLC (United Kingdom)                         9,300,000         74.368        .54 
VEBA AG (Germany)                                             340,450         19.272        .14 
Hongkong Electric Holdings Ltd.                                                                 
 (Hong Kong)                                                5,213,500         18.403        .13 
Enersis SA (American Depositary Receipts)                                                       
 (Chile)                                                      420,000         13.335        .10 

Data Processing & Reproduction - 0.86%                                                          
Oracle Corp. (USA)/1/                                       1,100,000         42.419        .31 
Silicon Graphics, Inc. (USA)/1/                             2,000,000         39.000        .29 
Sybase, Inc. (USA)/1/                                       1,850,000         25.900        .19 
Cisco Systems, Inc. (USA)/1/                                  200,000          9.625        .07 

Miscellaneous Materials & Commodities - 0.63%                                                   
De Beers/Centenary linked units (South Africa)              1,000,000         36.434        .27 
Potash Corp. of Saskatchewan Inc.                                                               
 (Canada)                                                     400,000         30.400        .22 
Cie. de Saint-Gobain (France)                                 122,395         18.559        .14 

Transportation: Shipping - 0.60%                                                                
Bergesen d.y. AS, Class A (Norway)                          1,500,000         33.207            
Bergesen d.y. AS, Class B                                     795,000         17.479        .37 
Nippon Yusen KK (Japan)                                     6,700,000         23.735        .17 
Overseas Shipholding Group, Inc. (USA)                        450,000          7.706        .06 

Metals: Steel - 0.51%                                                                           
Usinor Sacilor (France)                                     2,800,000         45.844        .34 
Cia. Vale do Rio Doce, ordinary                                                                 
 nominative (Brazil)                                           38,400          1.106            
Cia. Vale do Rio Doce, preferred                                                                
 nominative (American Depositary Receipts)                    990,240         22.280        .17 

Industrial Components - 0.46%                                                                   
Bridgestone Corp. (Japan)                                   1,540,000         28.897        .21 
Cie. Generale des Etablissements                                                                
 Michelin, Class B (France)                                   350,000         20.836        .15 
Rockwell International Corp. (USA)                            200,000         12.975        .10 

Transportation: Rail & Road - 0.32%                                                             
CSX Corp. (USA)                                               950,000         44.175        .32 

Building Materials & Components - 0.25%                                                         
Holderbank Financiere Glaris Ltd. (Switzerland)                23,000         17.643        .13 
CEMEX, SA de CV, Class A (Mexico)                           2,362,225          8.638            
CEMEX, SA de CV CPO                                         2,040,000          7.473        .12 

Construction & Housing - 0.19%                                                                  
Schneider SA (France)                                         450,000         25.788        .19 

Aerospace & Military Technology - 0.17%                                                         
McDonnell Douglas Corp. (USA)                                 250,000         15.250        .11 
Boeing Co. (USA)                                               50,000          4.931        .04 
Bombardier Inc., Class B (Canada)                             121,100          2.192        .02 
Litton Industries, Inc. (USA)/1/                                6,200           .250        .00 

Transportation: Airlines - 0.01%                                                                
British Airways PLC (American Depositary                                                        
 Receipts) (United Kingdom)                                    10,000          1.051        .01 

Miscellaneous - 3.87%                                                                           
Other equity-type securities in initial                                                         
 period of acquisition                                    109,807,500        528.241       3.87 
                                                                       ------------ ------------

TOTAL EQUITY-TYPE SECURITIES                                                                    
(cost: $8,705.897 million)                                                12,007.844      87.89 
                                                                       ------------ ------------

                                                          Principal                             
                                                              Amount                            
Bonds                                                     (Millions)                            
---------------------------------------                 ------------                            

New Zealand Government - 0.23%                                                                  
New Zealand 8.00% November 2006                            NZ$44.500          30.965        .23 

                                                                        ----------- ----------- 
TOTAL BONDS (cost: $29.749 million)                                           30.965        .23 
                                                                        ----------- ----------- 

TOTAL INVESTMENT SECURITIES (cost:                                                              
 $8,735.646 million)                                                      12,038.809      88.12 
                                                                        ----------- ----------- 

Short-Term Securities                                                                           
------------------------------------------                                                      

Corporate Short-Term Notes - 9.52%                                                              
General Electric Capital Corp. 5.31%-6.75%                                                      
 due 4/1-5/13/97                                               94.400         94.182        .69 
National Australia Funding (Delaware) Inc. 5.29%-5.37%                                          
 due 4/16-5/12/97                                              91.400         91.046        .67 
Abbey National North America 5.27%-5.35%                                                        
 due 4/23-6/11/97                                              90.000         89.270        .65 
Barclays U.S. Funding Corp. 5.29%-5.53%                                                         
 due 4/4-6/17/97                                               87.700         87.161        .64 
International Lease Finance Corp. 5.28%-5.30%                                                   
 due 4/8-5/16/97                                               82.500         82.215        .60 
Deutsche Bank Financial Inc. 5.31%-5.35%                                                        
 due 4/14-6/10/97                                              70.800         70.401        .52 
Halifax Building Society 5.29%-5.57%                                                            
 due 4/1-5/29/97                                               69.300         69.176        .51 
Corporate Asset Funding Co. Inc. 5.32%                                                          
 due 4/7-4/22/97                                               65.000         64.856        .47 
ABN-AMRO North America Finance Inc. 5.32%                                                       
 due 4/30/97                                                   53.200         52.964        .39 
American Express Credit Corp. 5.30%-5.32%                                                       
 due 4/1-4/8/97                                                51.900         51.881        .38 
Ford Credit Europe PLC 5.33%-5.51%                                                              
 due 4/8-5/2/97                                                52.000         51.781        .38 
Daimler-Benz North America Corp. 5.26%-5.40%                                                    
 due 4/21-6/5/97                                               50.000         49.628        .36 
ANZ (Delaware) Inc. 5.31%-5.375% due 4/7-6/17/97               46.600         46.204        .34 
Bank of Montreal 5.29%-5.32% due 4/3-4/9/97                    45.800         45.753        .33 
Societe Generale NA Inc. 5.35%-5.41%                                                            
 due 4/14-6/18/97                                              44.000         43.658        .32 
Canada Bills 5.29%-5.34% due 6/4-6/9/97                        44.000         43.540        .32 
Canadian Wheat Board 5.30%-5.54%                                                                
 due 4/28-5/13/97                                              42.300         42.073        .31 
Siemens Capital Corp. 5.27%-5.33%                                                               
 due 4/11-5/15/97                                              41.700         41.505        .30 
Ford Motor Credit Co. 5.32% due 4/3-5/7/97                     38.300         38.183        .28 
IBM Credit Corp. 5.27%-5.50% due 4/3-5/8/97                    36.200         36.101        .26 
Commerzbank U.S. Finance Inc. 5.33%-5.52%                                                       
 due 4/22-4/24/97                                              35.000         34.881        .26 
Svenska Handelsbanken 5.32%-5.35%                                                               
 due 4/17-4/30/97                                              25.600         25.532        .19 
Toyota Motor Credit Corp. 5.28% due 5/12/97                    25.000         24.845        .18 
Canadian Imperial Holdings Inc. 5.32%-5.33%                                                     
 due 4/15-5/16/97                                              23.600         23.456        .17 

Certificates of Deposit - 0.95%                                                                 
National Westminster Bank PLC 5.46%                                                             
 due 4/14/97                                                   45.000         45.007        .33 
Societe Generale 5.40% due 4/3-4/21/97                         45.000         45.001        .33 
Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce 5.40%                                                        
 due 4/28/97                                                   20.000         20.000        .15 
Deutsche Bank AG 5.36%-5.43% due 5/12-6/16/97                  19.500         19.495        .14 

Federal Agency Discount Notes - 1.69%                                                           
Federal National Mortgage Assn.                                                                 
 5.22%-5.30% due 4/15-6/16/97                                  99.000         98.072        .72 
Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corp.                                                                
 5.26%-5.55% due 5/1-6/23/97                                   91.300         90.604        .66 
Federal Home Loan Banks 5.25%-5.32%                                                             
 due 4/10-4/17/97                                              42.900         42.819        .31 
                                                                        ----------- ----------- 

Non-U.S. Currency - 0.07%                                                                       
New Taiwanese Dollar                                      NT$275.100           9.996        .07 

TOTAL SHORT-TERM SECURITIES                                                                     
 (cost: $1,671.472 million)                                                1,671.286      12.23 
Excess of payables over cash                                                                    
 and receivables                                                              48.040         .35
                                                                       ------------ ------------

TOTAL SHORT-TERM SECURITIES AND NET CASH                                   1,623.246      11.88 
                                                                       ------------ ------------

NET ASSETS                                                              $13,662.055      100.00%
                                                                        =========== =========== 

/1/ Non-income-producing securities                                                             

/2/ Purchased in a private placement                                                            
 transaction; resale to the public may                                                          
 require registration or sale only                                                              
 to qualified institutional buyers.                                                             

/3/ The fund owns 5.72% of the outstanding voting securities                                    
 of Georgia Gulf Corp., which represents investment in                                          
 an affiliate as defined in the Investment                                                      
 Company Act of 1940.                                                                           

See Notes to Financial Statements                                                               

                                                                [Download Table]
                                                                                 
New Perspective Fund                                                             
Financial Statements                                                   Unaudited 
----------------------------------                    ----------      ---------- 
Statement of Assets and Liabilities                                  (dollars in 
at March 31, 1997                                                      millions) 
----------------------------------                    ----------      ---------- 
Assets:                                                                          
Investment securities at market                                                  
 (cost: $8,735.646)                                                  $12,038.809 
Short-term securities                                                            
 (cost: $1,671.472)                                                    1,671.286 
Cash                                                                        .341 
Receivables for-                                                                 
 Sales of investments                                    $70.601                 
 Sales of fund's shares                                   30.873                 
 Dividends and accrued interest                           32.392         133.866 
                                                      ----------      ---------- 
                                                                      13,844.302 
Liabilities:                                                                     
Payables for-                                                                    
 Purchases of investments                                 77.752                 
 Repurchases of fund's shares                             96.271                 
 Management services                                       4.704                 
 Accrued expenses                                          3.520          182.247
                                                      ----------      ---------- 
Net Assets at March 31, 1997-                                                    
 Equivalent to $18.69 per share on                                               
 730,822,586 shares of $1 par value                                              
 capital stock outstanding (authorized                                           
 capital stock--1,000,000,000 shares)                                $13,662.055 
                                                                     =========== 

Statement of Operations                                                Unaudited 
for the six months ended March 31, 1997                              (dollars in 
                                                                       millions) 

----------------------------------                    ----------      ---------- 
Investment Income:                                                               
Income:                                                                          
 Dividends                                              $ 89.879                 
 Interest                                                 49.518       $ 139.397 
                                                      ----------                 
Expenses:                                                                        
 Management services fee                                  27.109                 
 Distribution expenses                                    14.441                 
 Transfer agent fee                                        6.194                 
 Reports to shareholders                                    .761                 
 Registration statement and prospectus                     1.031                 
 Postage, stationery and supplies                           .810                 
 Directors' and Advisory Board fees                         .148                 
 Auditing and legal fees                                    .074                 
 Custodian fee                                             1.903                 
 Taxes other than federal                                                        
  income tax                                                .170                 
 Other expenses                                             .078           52.719
                                                      ----------      ---------- 
 Net investment income                                                     86.678
                                                                      ---------- 
Realized Gain and Unrealized                                                     
 Appreciation on Investments:                                                    
Net realized gain                                                         372.445
Net unrealized appreciation on investments:                                      
 Beginning of period                                   2,505.462                 
 End of period                                         3,302.590          797.128
                                                      ----------      ---------- 
 Net realized gain and unrealized appreciation                                   
  on investments                                                        1,169.573
                                                                      ---------- 
Net Increase in Net Assets Resulting                                             
 from Operations                                                       $1,256.251
                                                                     =========== 

See Notes to Financial Statements                                                

----------------------------------                    ----------      ---------- 
Statement of Changes in Net Assets                   (dollars in                 
                                                       millions)                 
                                                      Six months      Year ended 
                                                 ended March 31,   September 30, 
                                                           1997*             1996
----------------------------------                    ----------      ---------- 
Operations:                                                                      
Net investment income                                $    86.678     $   204.748 
Net realized gain on investments                         372.445         439.315 
Net unrealized appreciation                                                      
 on investments                                          797.128         389.111 
                                                      ----------      ---------- 
 Net increase in net assets                                                      
 resulting from operations                             1,256.251       1,033.174 
                                                      ----------      ---------- 

Dividends and Distributions Paid to                                              
 Shareholders:                                                                   
Dividends from net investment income                    (149.976)       (181.254)
Distributions from net realized gain on                                          
 investments                                            (462.037)       (326.785)
                                                      ----------      ---------- 
 Total dividends and distributions                      (612.013)       (508.039)
                                                      ----------      ---------- 

Capital Share Transactions:                                                      
Proceeds from shares sold: 82,861,238                                            
 and 168,317,771 shares, respectively                  1,540.421       2,872.559 
Proceeds from shares issued in reinvestment                                      
 of net investment income dividends and                                          
 distributions of net realized gain on                                           
 investments: 32,699,129 and 29,221,609 shares,                                  
 respectively                                            580.367         477.859 
Cost of shares repurchased: 42,519,208                                           
 and 58,868,182 shares, respectively                    (790.631)     (1,004.893)
                                                      ----------      ---------- 

 Net increase in net assets resulting from                                       
  capital share transactions                           1,330.157       2,345.525 
                                                      ----------      ---------- 

Total Increase in Net Assets                           1,974.395       2,870.660 

Net Assets:                                                                      
Beginning of period                                   11,687.660       8,817.000 
                                                      ----------      ---------- 
End of period (including undistributed                                           
 net investment income: $54.946                                                  
 and $119.565, respectively)                         $13,662.055     $11,687.660 
                                                     ===========     =========== 

*Unaudited                                                                       

See Notes to Financial Statements                                                

Notes to Financial Statements                                  Unaudited        

1. New Perspective Fund, Inc. (the "fund") is registered under the Investment   
Company Act of 1940 as an open-end, diversified management investment company.  
The fund seeks long-term growth of capital through investments all over the     
world, including the United States. The following paragraphs summarize the      
significant accounting policies consistently followed by the fund in the        
preparation of its financial statements:                                        

Equity-type securities traded on a national securities exchange (or reported  
on the NASDAQ national market) and securities traded in the over-the-counter    
market are stated at the last reported sales price on the day of valuation;     
other securities, and securities for which no sale was reported on that date,   
are stated at the last quoted bid price.  Long-term and short-term securities   
with original or remaining maturities in excess of 60 days are valued at the    
mean of their representative quoted bid and asked prices or, if such prices are 
not available, at prices for securities of comparable maturity, quality and     
type.  Securities denominated in non-U.S. currencies are generally valued on    
the basis of bid quotations.  Short-term securities with 60 days or less to     
maturity are valued at amortized cost, which approximates market value.         
Securities for which market quotations are not readily available are valued at  
fair value by the Board of Directors or a committee thereof. As is customary in 
the mutual fund industry, securities transactions are accounted for on the date 
the securities are purchased or sold. In the event the fund purchases           
securities on a delayed delivery or "when-issued basis", it will segregate with 
its custodian liquid assets in an amount sufficient to meet its payment         
obligations in these transactions. Realized gains and losses from securities    
transactions are reported on an identified cost basis. Dividend and interest    
income is reported on the accrual basis. Discounts and premiums on securities   
purchased are amortized over the life of the respective securities. Dividends   
and distributions paid to shareholders are recorded on the ex-dividend date.    

Investment securities, cash balances, and other assets and liabilities        
denominated in non-U.S. currencies are recorded in the financial statements     
after translation into U.S. dollars utilizing rates of exchange on the last     
business day of the period. Purchases and sales of investment securities,       
income and expenses are calculated using the prevailing exchange rate as        
accrued. The effects of changes in foreign currency exchange rates on           
investment securities are included with the net realized and unrealized gain or 
loss on investment securities.                                                  

Pursuant to the custodian agreement, the fund receives credits against its    
custodian fee for imputed interest on certain balances with the custodian bank. 
The custodian fee of $1,903,000 includes $31,000 that was paid by these credits 
rather than in cash.                                                            

2. It is the fund's policy to continue to comply with the requirements of the   
Internal Revenue Code applicable to regulated investment companies and to       
distribute all of its net taxable income, including any net realized gain on    
investments, to its shareholders. Therefore, no federal income tax provision is 
required.                                                                       

As of March 31, 1997, net unrealized appreciation on investments for federal  
income tax purposes aggregated $3,303,965,000 of which $3,632,875,000 related   
to appreciated securities and $328,910,000 related to depreciated securities.   
During the six months ended March 31, 1997, the fund realized, on a tax basis,  
a net capital gain of $371,533,000 on securities transactions. Net losses       
related to non-U.S. currency transactions of $5,970,000 were treated as a       
reduction to ordinary income for federal income tax purposes. The capital gain  
distribution paid in December, 1996, includes $4,708,000 of realized non-U.S.   
currency gains. The cost of portfolio securities for federal income tax         
purposes was $10,406,130,000 at March 31, 1997.                                 

3. The fee of $27,109,000 for management services was paid pursuant to an       
agreement with Capital Research and Management Company (CRMC), with which       
certain officers and Directors of the fund are affiliated. The Investment       
Advisory and Service Agreement provides for monthly fees, accrued daily, based  
on an annual rate of 0.60% of the first $500 million of net assets; 0.50% of    
such assets in excess of $500 million but not exceeding $1 billion; 0.46% of    
such assets in excess of $1 billion but not exceeding $1.5 billion; 0.43% of    
such assets in excess of $1.5 billion but not exceeding $2.5 billion; 0.41% of  
such assets in excess of $2.5 billion but not exceeding $4 billion; 0.40% of    
such assets in excess of $4 billion but not exceeding $6.5 billion; 0.395% of   
such assets in excess of $6.5 billion but not exceeding $10.5 billion; and      
0.392% of such assets in excess of $10.5 billion. The Board of Directors has    
approved a new agreement containing a reduced fee schedule.  Effective April 1, 
1997, fees are based on an annual rate of 0.60% of the first $500 million of    
net assets; 0.50% of such assets in excess of $500 million but not exceeding $1 
billion; 0.46% of such assets in excess of $1 billion but not exceeding $1.5    
billion; 0.43% of such assets in excess of $1.5 billion but not exceeding $2.5  
billion; 0.41% of such assets in excess of $2.5 billion but not exceeding $4    
billion; 0.40% of such assets in excess of $4 billion but not exceeding $6.5    
billion; 0.395% of such assets in excess of $6.5 billion but not exceeding      
$10.5 billion; 0.39% of such assets in excess of $10.5 billion but not          
exceeding $17 billion; and 0.385% of such assets in excess of $17 billion.      

Pursuant to a Plan of Distribution, the fund may expend up to 0.25% of its    
average net assets annually for any activities primarily intended to result in  
sales of fund shares, provided the categories of expenses for which             
reimbursement is made are approved by the fund's Board of Directors. Fund       
expenses under the Plan include payments to dealers to compensate them for      
their selling and servicing efforts. During the six months ended March 31,      
1997, distribution expenses under the Plan were $14,441,000. As of March 31,    
1997, accrued and unpaid distribution expenses were $2,537,000.                 

American Funds Service Company (AFS), the transfer agent for the fund, was    
paid a fee of $6,194,000. American Funds Distributors, Inc. (AFD), the          
principal underwriter of the fund's shares, received $5,879,000 (after          
allowances to dealers) as its portion of the sales charges paid by purchasers   
of the fund's shares. Such sales charges are not an expense of the fund and,    
hence, are not reflected in the accompanying statement of operations.           

Directors and Advisory Board members who are unaffiliated with CRMC may elect 
to defer part or all of the fees earned for services as members of the Boards.  
Amounts deferred are not funded and are general unsecured liabilities of the    
fund. As of March 31, 1997, aggregate amounts deferred and earnings thereon     
were $331,000.                                                                  

CRMC is owned by The Capital Group Companies, Inc. AFS and AFD are both wholly
owned subsidiaries of CRMC. Certain Directors and officers of the fund are or   
may be considered to be affiliated with CRMC, AFS and AFD. No such persons      
received any remuneration directly from the fund.                               

4. As of March 31, 1997, accumulated undistributed net realized gain on         
investments was $293,158,000 and paid-in capital was $9,275,675,000.            

The fund made purchases and sales of investment securities, excluding         
short-term securities, of $2,426,975,000 and $1,585,762,000, respectively,      
during the six months ended March 31, 1997.                                     

Dividend and interest income is recorded net of non-U.S. taxes paid. For the  
six months ended March 31, 1997, such non-U.S. taxes were $5,521,000. Net       
realized currency gains on dividends, interest, withholding taxes reclaimable,  
and sales of non-U.S. bonds and notes were $253,000 for the six months ended    
March 31, 1997.                                                                 

                                                        [Enlarge/Download Table]
                                                                                                       
Per-Share Data and Ratios                                                                              
                                            Six months     Year     ended  September        30         
                                                 ended                                                 
                                            3/31/97(1)       1996     1995       1994    1993     1992 
                                                ------    ------   ------     ------   ------   ------ 

Net Asset Value, Beginning of Period            $17.77    $16.98   $15.40     $14.21   $12.25   $11.77 
                                                ------    ------   ------     ------   ------   ------ 
 Income from Investment Operations:                                                                    
  Net investment income                            .12       .32      .31        .22      .17      .21 
   Net realized and unrealized gain                                                                    
   on investments                                 1.71      1.40     2.35       1.54     2.04      .71 
                                                ------    ------   ------     ------   ------   ------ 
   Total income from                                                                                   
 investment operations                            1.83      1.72     2.66       1.76     2.21      .92 
                                                ------    ------   ------     ------   ------   ------ 
 Less Distributions:                                                                                   
  Dividends from net                                                                                   
 investment income                               (.223)    (.321)   (.237)     (.173)   (.178)    (.24)
  Dividends from net realized                                                                          
 non-U.S. currency gains(2)                      (.007)    (.009)   (.003)     (.027)   (.022)       - 
  Distributions from net                                                                               
 realized gains                                  (.680)    (.600)   (.840)     (.370)   (.050)    (.20)
                                                ------    ------   ------     ------   ------   ------ 
   Total distributions                            (.91)     (.93)   (1.08)      (.57)    (.25)    (.44)
                                                ------    ------   ------     ------   ------   ------ 
Net Asset Value, End of Period                  $18.69    $17.77   $16.98     $15.40   $14.21   $12.25 
                                                ======    ======   ======     ======   ======   ====== 

Total Return(3)                              10.57%(4)    10.64%    18.63%     12.61%   18.34%    8.04%

Ratios/Supplemental Data:                                                                              
  Net assets, end of                                                                                   
 period (in millions)                          $13,662   $11,688   $8,817     $6,279   $4,417   $3,082 
  Ratio of expenses to average                                                                         
 net assets                                    .41%(4)       .82%     .83%      .84%      .87%     .85%
  Ratio of net income to                                                                               
 average net assets                            .67%(4)      2.00%    2.12%     1.48%     1.40%    1.82%
  Average commissions paid(5)                    2.76c     4.30c     .72c      1.05c    1.74c    3.02c 
  Portfolio turnover rate                    14.06%(4)     18.12%   22.40%     25.33%   15.02%    6.43%

(1) Unaudited                                                                                          
(2) Realized non-U.S. currency gains                                                                   
 are treated as ordinary income for                                                                    
 federal income tax purposes.                                                                          
(3)Calculated without deducting a sales                                                                
 charge. The maximum sales charge is                                                                   
 5.75% of the fund's offering price.                                                                   
(4) Based on operations for six months                                                                 
 and, accordingly, not representative of a                                                             
 full year's operations.                                                                               
(5)Brokerage commissions paid on                                                                       
 portfolio transactions increase                                                                       
 the cost of securities                                                                                
 purchased or reduce the proceeds                                                                      
 of securities sold and are not separately                                                             
 reflected in the fund's                                                                               
 statement of operations.                                                                              
 Shares traded on a principal basis                                                                    
 (without commissions), such as most                                                                   
 over-the-counter and fixed-income                                                                     
 transactions, are excluded.                                                                           
 Generally, non-U.S. commissions are                                                                   
 lower than U.S. commissions when                                                                      
 expressed as cents per share but                                                                      
 higher when expressed as                                                                              
 a percentage of transactions                                                                          
 because of the lower per-share prices                                                                 
 of many non-U.S. securities.                                                                          

THE AMERICAN FUNDS GROUP(R) SHAREHOLDER SERVICES                                

ARE YOU AWARE OF YOUR RIGHTS?                                                   

Did you know you may be eligible for a sales charge discount when you buy       
shares of most American Funds? The discounts begin when your investments total  
$25,000 for bond funds or $50,000 for stock and stock/bond funds - and the good 
news is you don't have to invest the whole amount at one time.                  

Through your right of accumulation, when you purchase additional shares you can 
add the purchase amount to the value of shares you already own - in any of our  
eligible funds* - in order to qualify for a sales charge discount on the new    
investment.                                                                     

Sales charges are reduced on a sliding scale as your investments increase.      
You'll find a detailed breakdown of all discounts in your fund's prospectus,    
which you can obtain from your financial adviser or by calling a Shareholder    
Services Representative.                                                        

OTHER WAYS TO REDUCE SALES CHARGES                                              

You can establish a statement of intention that allows you to invest at a       
reduced sales charge immediately, based on purchases you intend to make over a  
13-month period.* Or you can aggregate accounts by adding your purchase amount  
to the total value of accounts you, your spouse and your minor children have    
with The American Funds Group. Call a Shareholder Services Representative for   
details and restrictions.                                                       

Whether you accumulate, aggregate or establish a statement of intention, it all 
adds up - to more purchasing power for you.                                     

INVESTING WITH STYLE                                                            

AMERICAN FUNDSLINE(R) AND FUNDSLINE ONLINE/SM/ - Handle transactions using your 
computer or phone 24 hours a day. Obtain current prices and investment returns, 
exchange shares between funds, redeem shares, check your share balances and     
confirm your most recent transaction. Request duplicate statements and order    
checks (phone only). All on your timetable. Just call 800/325-3590 or reach us  
on the World Wide Web at www.americanfunds.com.                                 

AMERICAN FUNDSLINK/SM/ - Link your American Funds accounts with your bank       
account. You can have fund dividends or automatic fund withdrawals deposited    
directly into your bank account. Or you can invest money directly from your     
bank account into your fund account on either a systematic or on-demand basis.  

OTHER AUTOMATIC TRANSACTIONS - You can reinvest dividends into the same fund or 
another fund, make withdrawals, and exchange shares between funds - quarterly,  
monthly or during the months you specify.                                       

DIVIDEND AND CAPITAL GAIN OPTIONS - Use your dividend and capital gain          
distributions to meet your changing needs. You may:                             

- Automatically reinvest distributions back into the fund at no sales charge.   

- Cross-reinvest dividends into another fund at no sales charge. (Certain       
restrictions apply.)                                                            

- Have dividends mailed or sent electronically to you or to someone else.       

EXCHANGE PRIVILEGES - When you and your investment adviser feel it's time to    
adjust your portfolio to meet your changing investment goals, you can easily    
exchange shares from one American Fund to another - usually without paying a    
sales charge.* To open an account in a different fund, you must meet that       
fund's minimum investment requirement. An exchange generally constitutes a sale 
and purchase for tax purposes.                                                  

*Investments in our money market funds - The Cash Management Trust of America,  
The Tax-Exempt Money Fund of America and The U.S. Treasury Money Fund of        
America - which are purchased without a sales charge, generally do not apply    
when determining your sales charges unless the shares were originally purchased 
in another American Fund that required a sales charge, then later exchanged     
into our money market funds.                                                    

FOR MORE COMPLETE INFORMATION ABOUT THESE SERVICES OR ABOUT ANY OF THE AMERICAN 
FUNDS, INCLUDING CHARGES AND EXPENSES, PLEASE OBTAIN A PROSPECTUS FROM YOUR     
FINANCIAL ADVISER OR AMERICAN FUNDS SERVICE COMPANY AND READ IT CAREFULLY       
BEFORE YOU INVEST OR SEND MONEY. THESE SERVICES ARE SUBJECT TO CHANGE OR        
TERMINATION.                                                                    

TO TALK TO A SHAREHOLDER SERVICES REPRESENTATIVE, CALL TOLL-FREE (8 A.M. TO 8   
P.M. ET) FROM ANYWHERE IN THE U.S.: 800/421-0180.                               

VISIT US AT WWW.AMERICANFUNDS.COM ON THE WORLD WIDE WEB.                        

OFFICES OF THE FUND AND OF THE                                                  
INVESTMENT ADVISER, CAPITAL RESEARCH                                            
AND MANAGEMENT COMPANY                                                          
333 South Hope Street                                                           
Los Angeles, California 90071-1443                                              

135 South State College Boulevard                                               
Brea, California 92821-5804                                                     

TRANSFER AGENT FOR SHAREHOLDER ACCOUNTS                                         
(Please write to the address nearest you.)                                      
American Funds Service Company                                                  
P.O. Box 2205                                                                   
Brea, California 92822-2205                                                     

P.O. Box 659522                                                                 
San Antonio, Texas 78265-9522                                                   

P.O. Box 6007                                                                   
Indianapolis, Indiana 46206-6007                                                

P.O. Box 2280                                                                   
Norfolk, Virginia 23501-2280                                                    

CUSTODIAN OF ASSETS                                                             
The Chase Manhattan Bank                                                        
One Chase Manhattan Plaza                                                       
New York, New York 10081-0001                                                   

COUNSEL                                                                         
O'Melveny & Myers LLP                                                           
400 South Hope Street                                                           
Los Angeles, California 90071-2899                                              

PRINCIPAL UNDERWRITER                                                           
American Funds Distributors, Inc.                                               
333 South Hope Street                                                           
Los Angeles, California 90071-1462                                              

FOR INFORMATION ABOUT YOUR ACCOUNT OR ANY OF THE FUND'S SERVICES, PLEASE        
CONTACT YOUR FINANCIAL ADVISER. YOU MAY ALSO CALL AMERICAN FUNDS SERVICE        
COMPANY, TOLL-FREE, AT 800/421-0180 OR VISIT WWW.AMERICANFUNDS.COM ON THE WORLD 
WIDE WEB.                                                                       

This report is for the information of shareholders of New Perspective Fund, but 
it may also be used as sales literature when preceded or accompanied by the     
current prospectus, which gives details about charges, expenses, investment     
objectives and operating policies of the fund. If used as sales material after  
June 30, 1997, this report must be accompanied by an American Funds Group       
Statistical Update for the most recently completed calendar quarter.            

Litho in USA AGD/GRS/3400                                                       
Lit. No. NPF-013-0597                                                           
Printed on recycled paper                                                       
[The American Funds Group(r)]                                                   

Dates Referenced Herein   and   Documents Incorporated by Reference

This ‘N-30D’ Filing		Date		Other Filings
		9/30/97		24F-2NT,  N-30D,  NSAR-B
		6/30/97
Filed on:		6/5/97
		5/12/97
		4/1/97
For Period End:		3/31/97		NSAR-A
				List all Filings