<ARTICLE> 7 <PERIOD-TYPE> 6-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1998 <PERIOD-START> JAN-01-1998 <PERIOD-END> JUN-30-1998 <DEBT-HELD-FOR-SALE> 1,316,078 <DEBT-CARRYING-VALUE> 0 <DEBT-MARKET-VALUE> 0 <EQUITIES> 151,673 <MORTGAGE> 0 <REAL-ESTATE> 0 <TOTAL-INVEST> 1,496,807 <CASH> 8,862 <RECOVER-REINSURE> 35,021 <DEFERRED-ACQUISITION> 47,966 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 1,705,831 <POLICY-LOSSES> 201,726 <UNEARNED-PREMIUMS> 81,071 <POLICY-OTHER> 0 <POLICY-HOLDER-FUNDS> 0 <NOTES-PAYABLE> 99,442 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 352 <OTHER-SE> 1,071,873 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 1,705,831 <PREMIUMS> 235,173 <INVESTMENT-INCOME> 42,716 <INVESTMENT-GAINS> 10,191 <OTHER-INCOME> 10,023 <BENEFITS> 68,675 <UNDERWRITING-AMORTIZATION> 0 <UNDERWRITING-OTHER> 92,496 <INCOME-PRETAX> 129,272 <INCOME-TAX> 36,717 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 92,555 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 92,555 <EPS-PRIMARY> 2.88 <EPS-DILUTED> 2.86 <RESERVE-OPEN> 0 <PROVISION-CURRENT> 0 <PROVISION-PRIOR> 0 <PAYMENTS-CURRENT> 0 <PAYMENTS-PRIOR> 0 <RESERVE-CLOSE> 0 <CUMULATIVE-DEFICIENCY> 0