<ARTICLE>                     7
<LEGEND>

                    STEWART INFORMATION SERVICES CORPORATION




THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL  INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE BALANCE
SHEET AS OF JUNE 30, 1999 AND THE  RELATED  STATEMENT  OF  EARNINGS  FOR THE SIX
MONTHS ENDED JUNE 30, 1999 AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH
FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.

</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER>                 1000

                                       

<PERIOD-TYPE>                                    Year

<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1999

<PERIOD-END>                               JUN-30-1999

<DEBT-HELD-FOR-SALE>                           235,839
<DEBT-CARRYING-VALUE>                                0
<DEBT-MARKET-VALUE>                                  0
<EQUITIES>                                           0
<MORTGAGE>                                           0
<REAL-ESTATE>                                        0
<TOTAL-INVEST>                                 302,299  <F1>
<CASH>                                          42,241
<RECOVER-REINSURE>                                   0
<DEFERRED-ACQUISITION>                               0
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 521,032
<POLICY-LOSSES>                                176,931
<UNEARNED-PREMIUMS>                                  0
<POLICY-OTHER>                                       0
<POLICY-HOLDER-FUNDS>                                0
<NOTES-PAYABLE>                                 15,920
<COMMON>                                         7,293
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                0
<PREFERRED>                                          0
<OTHER-SE>                                     274,557
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                   521,032
<PREMIUMS>                                     502,833
<INVESTMENT-INCOME>                              9,792
<INVESTMENT-GAINS>                                  30
<OTHER-INCOME>                                  31,316
<BENEFITS>                                      21,186
<UNDERWRITING-AMORTIZATION>                          0
<UNDERWRITING-OTHER>                                 0
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                 34,134
<INCOME-TAX>                                    12,808
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                             21,326
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0
<CHANGES>                                            0
<NET-INCOME>                                    21,326
<EPS-BASIC>                                     1.49
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     1.47
<RESERVE-OPEN>                                 171,763
<PROVISION-CURRENT>                             19,790  <F2>
<PROVISION-PRIOR>                                1,946
<PAYMENTS-CURRENT>                              (2,427)
<PAYMENTS-PRIOR>                               (14,141)
<RESERVE-CLOSE>                                176,931
<CUMULATIVE-DEFICIENCY>                              0


<FN>
<F1>  Includes short-term investments.
<F2>  Includes  reserve  balance  increase  of $550 from the  acquisition  of an
      existing underwriter.
</FN>