Exhibit 99.1350CERT

         Certification Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes Oxley Act

I, Terry K. Glenn, President of Merrill Lynch Balanced Capital Fund, Inc. (the
"Fund"), certify that:

      1.    The N-CSR of the Fund (the "Report") fully complies with the
            requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange
            Act of 1934; and

      2.    The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all
            material respects, the financial condition and results of operations
            of the Fund.

Dated: November 19, 2004

                                       /s/ Terry K. Glenn
                                       -----------------------------------------
                                       Terry K. Glenn,
                                       President of
                                       Merrill Lynch Balanced Capital Fund, Inc.

A signed original of this written statement required by Section 906, or other
document authenticating, acknowledging, or otherwise adopting the signature that
appears in typed form within the electronic version of this written statement
required by Section 906, has been provided to Merrill Lynch Balanced Capital
Fund, Inc. and will be retained by Merrill Lynch Balanced Capital Fund, Inc. and
furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission or its staff upon request.



Exhibit 99.1350CERT

         Certification Pursuant to Section 906 of the Sarbanes Oxley Act

I, Donald C. Burke, Chief Financial Officer of Merrill Lynch Balanced Capital
Fund, Inc. (the "Fund"), certify that:

      1.    The N-CSR of the Fund (the "Report") fully complies with the
            requirements of Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange
            Act of 1934; and

      2.    The information contained in the Report fairly presents, in all
            material respects, the financial condition and results of operations
            of the Fund.

Dated: November 19, 2004

                                       /s/ Donald C. Burke
                                       -----------------------------------------
                                       Donald C. Burke,
                                       Chief Financial Officer of
                                       Merrill Lynch Balanced Capital Fund, Inc.

A signed original of this written statement required by Section 906, or other
document authenticating, acknowledging, or otherwise adopting the signature that
appears in typed form within the electronic version of this written statement
required by Section 906, has been provided to Merrill Lynch Balanced Capital
Fund, Inc. and will be retained by Merrill Lynch Balanced Capital Fund, Inc. and
furnished to the Securities and Exchange Commission or its staff upon request.