<ARTICLE>                     5
<MULTIPLIER>                                   1
       
                             
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   6-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                              DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-END>                                   JUN-30-1996
<CASH>                                           6,860,183
<SECURITIES>                                    55,232,807
<RECEIVABLES>                                  117,274,653
<ALLOWANCES>                                             0
<INVENTORY>                                    114,348,602
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                         0<F1>
<PP&E>                                           6,254,176
<DEPRECIATION>                                           0<F1>
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                 462,993,217
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                                    0
<BONDS>                                        181,750,000
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                    0
<PREFERRED>                                              0
<COMMON>                                           296,264
<OTHER-SE>                                     119,649,422
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                   462,993,217
<SALES>                                                  0
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                               118,158,769
<CGS>                                                    0
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                            0
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                36,361,657
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                         0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                               6,381,727
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                 75,415,385
<INCOME-TAX>                                    31,297,385
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                             44,118,000
<DISCONTINUED>                                           0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                          0
<CHANGES>                                                0
<NET-INCOME>                                    44,118,000
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                         1.46
<EPS-DILUTED>                                         1.41
<FN>
<F1>      The Company  makes use of an  unclassified  balance sheet style due to
          the nature of its businesss.  Current  Assets and Current  Liabilities
          are therefore reflected as zero in accordance with the instructions of
          Appendix E to the EDGAR Filer Manual.
</FN>