<ARTICLE> BD <LEGEND> THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF FINANCIAL CONDITION - DECEMBER 31, 1998 AND CONSOLIDATED STATEMENT OF INCOME AS ENDED DECEMBER 31, 1998 AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FORM 10K DECEMBER 31, 1998. </LEGEND> <NAME> First Montauk Financial Corp. <CIK> 0000083125 <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> Year <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1998 <PERIOD-START> JAN-01-1998 <PERIOD-END> DEC-31-1998 <CASH> 614 <RECEIVABLES> 3,127 <SECURITIES-RESALE> 0 <SECURITIES-BORROWED> 0 <INSTRUMENTS-OWNED> 2,733 <PP&E> 2,074 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 11,544 <SHORT-TERM> 0 <PAYABLES> 3,701 <REPOS-SOLD> 0 <SECURITIES-LOANED> 0 <INSTRUMENTS-SOLD> 327 <LONG-TERM> 1,034 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 4,981 <OTHER-SE> 1,206 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 11,544 <TRADING-REVENUE> 8,796 <INTEREST-DIVIDENDS> 1,572 <COMMISSIONS> 30,741 <INVESTMENT-BANKING-REVENUES> 767 <FEE-REVENUE> 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 131 <COMPENSATION> 31,766 <INCOME-PRETAX> (3,367) <INCOME-PRE-EXTRAORDINARY> (3,367) <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> (2,763) <EPS-PRIMARY> (0.28) <EPS-DILUTED> (0.28)