<ARTICLE> 5 <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <CURRENCY> U.S. DOLLARS <PERIOD-TYPE> 3-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> MAR-31-1999 <PERIOD-START> JAN-01-1999 <PERIOD-END> MAR-31-1999 <EXCHANGE-RATE> 1 <CASH> 73,592 <SECURITIES> 44,624 <RECEIVABLES> 183,700 <ALLOWANCES> 0 <INVENTORY> 1,002,210 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 1,684,146 <PP&E> 53,343 <DEPRECIATION> 17,279 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 1,736,351 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 1,485,014 <BONDS> 6,339 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 316 <OTHER-SE> 244,682 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 1,736,351 <SALES> 26,355 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 60,888 <CGS> 32,567 <TOTAL-COSTS> 43,530 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 10,963 <LOSS-PROVISION> 3,055 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 18,881 <INCOME-PRETAX> 17,358 <INCOME-TAX> 6,197 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 11,161 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 11,161 <EPS-PRIMARY> 0.50 <EPS-DILUTED> 0.50