<ARTICLE> 5 <PERIOD-TYPE> 6-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> OCT-31-1999 <PERIOD-START> NOV-01-1998 <PERIOD-END> APR-30-1999 <CASH> 10,036 <SECURITIES> 0 <RECEIVABLES> 310,842 <ALLOWANCES> (14,553) <INVENTORY> 0 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 318,423 <PP&E> 87,293 <DEPRECIATION> (57,009) <TOTAL-ASSETS> 494,657 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 159,293 <BONDS> 133,809 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 155 <OTHER-SE> 182,794 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 494,657 <SALES> 0 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 415,069 <CGS> 0 <TOTAL-COSTS> 239,151 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 148,737 <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 4,714 <INCOME-PRETAX> 22,467 <INCOME-TAX> 9,800 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 12,667 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 12,667 <EPS-BASIC> 0.83 <EPS-DILUTED> 0.77