<ARTICLE> 5 <LEGEND> THE SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS AND THE CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF OPERATIONS AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. </LEGEND> <MULTIPLIER> 1000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 6-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> APR-30-1998 <PERIOD-END> OCT-31-1997 <CASH> 216,103 <SECURITIES> 106 <RECEIVABLES> 677,921 <ALLOWANCES> 32,355 <INVENTORY> 0 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 1,460,358 <PP&E> 63,405<F1> <DEPRECIATION> 0 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 1,888,522 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 693,086 <BONDS> 0 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 4 <COMMON> 1,089 <OTHER-SE> 903,284 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 1,888,522 <SALES> 0 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 122,202 <CGS> 0 <TOTAL-COSTS> 235,933 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 0 <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0 <INCOME-PRETAX> (105,338) <INCOME-TAX> (40,028) <INCOME-CONTINUING> (65,310) <DISCONTINUED> (14,056)<F2> <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> (79,366) <EPS-PRIMARY> (.76) <EPS-DILUTED> 0 <FN> <F1>PP&E BALANCE IS NET OF ACCUMULATED DEPRECIATION AND AMORTIZATION. <F2>NET OF TAXES ON EARNINGS OF $8218. </FN>