<ARTICLE>  5
<LEGEND>
     THE  SCHEDULE  CONTAINS  SUMMARY  FINANCIAL   INFORMATION   EXTRACTED  FROM
     REGISTRANT'S  FINANCIAL  STATEMENTS FOR THE QUARTER ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1997
     AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER>  1,000
       
                                                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                                                   3-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                                               SEP-30-1998
<PERIOD-END>                                                    DEC-31-1997
<CASH>                                                            440,474
<SECURITIES>                                                      234,000
<RECEIVABLES>                                                     209,851
<ALLOWANCES>                                                            0
<INVENTORY>                                                             0
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                                  901,334
<PP&E>                                                            258,184
<DEPRECIATION>                                                          0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                                  3,167,548
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                                             348,166
<BONDS>                                                                 0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                                   0
<PREFERRED>                                                             0
<COMMON>                                                           25,272
<OTHER-SE>                                                      1,841,598
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                                    3,167,548
<SALES>                                                                 0
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                                  632,399
<CGS>                                                                   0
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                                     464,957
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                                        0
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                                        0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                                  6,152
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                                   176,265
<INCOME-TAX>                                                       45,750
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                                                     0
<DISCONTINUED>                                                          0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                                         0
<CHANGES>                                                               0
<NET-INCOME>                                                      130,515
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                                        0.52
<EPS-DILUTED>                                                        0.52