<ARTICLE> 5 <PERIOD-TYPE> 6-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> JUL-31-2000 <PERIOD-START> AUG-01-1999 <PERIOD-END> JAN-31-2000 <CASH> 235,614,129 <SECURITIES> 80,887,825 <RECEIVABLES> 160,964,268 <ALLOWANCES> 9,856,967 <INVENTORY> 0 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 533,680,655 <PP&E> 209,030,602 <DEPRECIATION> 50,931,997 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 851,913,407 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 179,968,253 <BONDS> 0 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 242,320 <OTHER-SE> 413,390,859 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 815,913,407 <SALES> 558,940,131 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 558,940,131 <CGS> 450,983,160 <TOTAL-COSTS> 576,695,866 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 0 <LOSS-PROVISION> 3,329,098 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 6,289,513 <INCOME-PRETAX> 230,522,322 <INCOME-TAX> 101,582,271 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 137,052,698 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 2,975,846 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 134,076,852 <EPS-BASIC> 3.93 <EPS-DILUTED> 3.68