<ARTICLE>  5
<LEGEND>
THE SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL  INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM REGISTRANT'S
FINANCIAL  STATEMENTS  FOR THE QUARTER  ENDED MARCH 31, 1997 AND IS QUALIFIED IN
ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER>  1,000
       
                                         
<PERIOD-TYPE>                               6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                           SEP-30-1997
<PERIOD-END>                                MAR-31-1997
<CASH>                                        301,356
<SECURITIES>                                  192,641
<RECEIVABLES>                                 209,106
<ALLOWANCES>                                        0
<INVENTORY>                                         0
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                              702,562
<PP&E>                                        168,561
<DEPRECIATION>                                      0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                              2,790,698
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                         351,746
<BONDS>                                             0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                               0
<PREFERRED>                                         0
<COMMON>                                       12,623
<OTHER-SE>                                  1,632,552
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                2,790,698
<SALES>                                             0
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                              961,915
<CGS>                                               0
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                 692,342
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                    0
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                    0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                             13,929
<INCOME-PRETAX>                               281,339
<INCOME-TAX>                                   83,699
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                                 0
<DISCONTINUED>                                      0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                     0
<CHANGES>                                           0
<NET-INCOME>                                  197,640
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                    1.56
<EPS-DILUTED>                                    1.56