<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-30-1999 <PERIOD-END> OCT-31-1998 <CASH> 307,941 <SECURITIES> 148,753 <RECEIVABLES> 1,404,522 <ALLOWANCES> 47,493 <INVENTORY> 0 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 1,967,036 <PP&E> 75,084<F1> <DEPRECIATION> 0 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 2,569,110 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 1,464,122 <BONDS> 0 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 1,089 <OTHER-SE> 815,600 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 2,569,110 <SALES> 0 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 172,515 <CGS> 0 <TOTAL-COSTS> 292,176 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 0 <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0 <INCOME-PRETAX> (95,019) <INCOME-TAX> (36,107) <INCOME-CONTINUING> (58,912) <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> (58,912) <EPS-PRIMARY> (.58) <EPS-DILUTED> (.58) <FN> <F1>PP&E BALANCE IS NET OF ACCUMULATED DEPRECIATION AND AMORTIZATION. </FN>