<ARTICLE>                     5
<LEGEND>This schedule contains summary financial information extracted from
Item 1 of Form 10-K for the period ended December 31, 1997 and is qualified in
its entirety by reference to such 10-K.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER>                                   1,000
<CURRENCY>                              U.S. Dollars
       
                                     
<PERIOD-TYPE>                                 12-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                        DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-START>                           JAN-01-1997
<PERIOD-END>                             DEC-31-1997
<EXCHANGE-RATE>                                    1
<CASH>                                        57,169
<SECURITIES>                                  57,497
<RECEIVABLES>                                 19,851
<ALLOWANCES>                                       0
<INVENTORY>                                        0
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                             138,168
<PP&E>                                        56,756
<DEPRECIATION>                                19,813
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                               193,090
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                         46,645
<BONDS>                                            0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                              0
<PREFERRED>                                        0
<COMMON>                                          24
<OTHER-SE>                                   145,995
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                 193,090
<SALES>                                            0
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                              88,351
<CGS>                                              0
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                      0
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                              81,061
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                   0
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                               152
<INCOME-PRETAX>                               10,956
<INCOME-TAX>                                     548
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                           10,408
<DISCONTINUED>                                     0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                    0
<CHANGES>                                          0
<NET-INCOME>                                  10,408
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                    .47
<EPS-DILUTED>                                    .43