<ARTICLE> 7 <LEGEND> THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS AND STATEMENTS OF INCOME AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. </LEGEND> <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 6-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1998 <PERIOD-START> JAN-01-1998 <PERIOD-END> JUN-30-1998 <DEBT-HELD-FOR-SALE> 3,943,900 <DEBT-CARRYING-VALUE> 0 <DEBT-MARKET-VALUE> 0 <EQUITIES> 1,229,300 <MORTGAGE> 0 <REAL-ESTATE> 0 <TOTAL-INVEST> 5,675,400 <CASH> 21,200 <RECOVER-REINSURE> 300,200 <DEFERRED-ACQUISITION> 296,400 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 8,285,700 <POLICY-LOSSES> 2,170,400 <UNEARNED-PREMIUMS> 2,301,800 <POLICY-OTHER> 0 <POLICY-HOLDER-FUNDS> 0 <NOTES-PAYABLE> 776,200 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 72,500 <OTHER-SE> 2,338,500 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 8,285,700 <PREMIUMS> 2,373,400 <INVESTMENT-INCOME> 144,100 <INVESTMENT-GAINS> 48,100 <OTHER-INCOME> 20,000 <BENEFITS> 1,633,800 <UNDERWRITING-AMORTIZATION> 317,600 <UNDERWRITING-OTHER> 233,500 <INCOME-PRETAX> 354,400 <INCOME-TAX> 111,300 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 243,100 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 243,100 <EPS-PRIMARY> 3.36 <EPS-DILUTED> 3.20 <RESERVE-OPEN> 0 <PROVISION-CURRENT> 0 <PROVISION-PRIOR> 0 <PAYMENTS-CURRENT> 0 <PAYMENTS-PRIOR> 0 <RESERVE-CLOSE> 0 <CUMULATIVE-DEFICIENCY> 0