<ARTICLE>  5
<LEGEND>
THE SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL  INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM REGISTRANT'S
FINANCIAL  STATEMENTS  FOR THE QUARTER  ENDED MARCH 31, 1999 AND IS QUALIFIED IN
ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.

</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER>  1,000
       
                                         
<PERIOD-TYPE>                               6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                           SEP-30-1999
<PERIOD-END>                                MAR-31-1999
<CASH>                                        620,146
<SECURITIES>                                  379,854
<RECEIVABLES>                                 234,272
<ALLOWANCES>                                        0
<INVENTORY>                                         0
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                            1,256,665
<PP&E>                                        363,934
<DEPRECIATION>                                      0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                              3,458,807
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                         365,783
<BONDS>                                             0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                               0
<PREFERRED>                                         0
<COMMON>                                       25,213
<OTHER-SE>                                  2,420,730
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                3,458,807
<SALES>                                             0
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                            1,121,750
<CGS>                                               0
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                 899,865
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                    0
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                    0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                             10,949
<INCOME-PRETAX>                               235,962
<INCOME-TAX>                                   64,999
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                                 0
<DISCONTINUED>                                      0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                     0
<CHANGES>                                           0
<NET-INCOME>                                  170,963
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                    0.68
<EPS-DILUTED>                                    0.68