<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> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 6-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> APR-30-2000 <PERIOD-END> OCT-31-1999 <CASH> 168,182 <SECURITIES> 43,831 <RECEIVABLES> 801,346 <ALLOWANCES> 73,608 <INVENTORY> 0 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 1,108,949 <PP&E> 135,695<F1> <DEPRECIATION> 0 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 2,273,515 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 868,208 <BONDS> 0 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 1,089 <OTHER-SE> 947,569 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 2,273,515 <SALES> 0 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 331,506 <CGS> 0 <TOTAL-COSTS> 468,763 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 0 <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 0 <INCOME-PRETAX> (131,954) <INCOME-TAX> (50,143) <INCOME-CONTINUING> (81,811) <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> (81,811) <EPS-BASIC> (.84) <EPS-DILUTED> (.84) <FN> <F1>PP&E BALANCE IS NET OF ACCUMULATED DEPRECIATION AND AMORTIZATION. </FN>