<ARTICLE>                              BD
<LEGEND>



                                                                      Exhibit 27

                         THE BEAR STEARNS COMPANIES INC.
                             FINANCIAL DATA SCHEDULE
                                   (UNAUDITED)
                        (In thousands, except share data)

This  schedule  contains  summary  financial   information  extracted  from  the
unaudited  Consolidated Statement of Financial Condition at May 26, 2000 and the
unaudited  Consolidated  Statement  of Income for the  six-months  ended May 26,
2000,  which  are  contained  in the body of the  accompanying  Form 10-Q and is
qualified in its entirety by reference to such financial statements.


</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER>                                         1,000

                                                  
<PERIOD-TYPE>                                        6-Mos
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                                    Nov-30-2000
<PERIOD-END>                                         May-26-2000
<CASH>                                                 1,060,394
<RECEIVABLES>                                         20,236,283
<SECURITIES-RESALE>                                   34,453,442
<SECURITIES-BORROWED>                                 61,873,186
<INSTRUMENTS-OWNED>                                   48,269,649
<PP&E>                                                   514,655
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                       172,150,657
<SHORT-TERM>                                          17,941,392
<PAYABLES>                                            43,547,451
<REPOS-SOLD>                                          57,046,118
<SECURITIES-LOANED>                                            0
<INSTRUMENTS-SOLD>                                    24,130,493
<LONG-TERM>                                           19,249,183
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                          0
<PREFERRED>                                              800,000
<COMMON>                                                 184,806
<OTHER-SE>                                             3,880,476
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                         172,150,657
<TRADING-REVENUE>                                      1,161,535
<INTEREST-DIVIDENDS>                                   2,784,637
<COMMISSIONS>                                            632,101
<INVESTMENT-BANKING-REVENUES>                            544,048
<FEE-REVENUE>                                                  0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                     2,364,345
<COMPENSATION>                                         1,423,183
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                          619,622
<INCOME-PRE-EXTRAORDINARY>                               619,622
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                                0
<CHANGES>                                                      0
<NET-INCOME>                                             396,558
<EPS-BASIC>                                               2.67
<EPS-DILUTED>                                               2.67