<ARTICLE> BD <LEGEND> THIS SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM THE FINANCIAL STATEMENTS INCLUDED IN THIS REGISTRATION STATEMENT FILING AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. </LEGEND> <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 12-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> SEP-30-1998 <PERIOD-END> SEP-30-1998 <CASH> 21,834 <RECEIVABLES> 1,310,235 <SECURITIES-RESALE> 0 <SECURITIES-BORROWED> 328,989 <INSTRUMENTS-OWNED> 560,876 <PP&E> 48,128 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 1,968,918 <SHORT-TERM> 73,765 <PAYABLES> 345,495 <REPOS-SOLD> 0 <SECURITIES-LOANED> 839,422 <INSTRUMENTS-SOLD> 0 <LONG-TERM> 0 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 566 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 0 <OTHER-SE> 709,670 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 1,968,918 <TRADING-REVENUE> 0 <INTEREST-DIVIDENDS> 95,733 <COMMISSIONS> 162,097 <INVESTMENT-BANKING-REVENUES> 0 <FEE-REVENUE> 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 39,714 <COMPENSATION> 0 <INCOME-PRETAX> (1,665) <INCOME-PRE-EXTRAORDINARY> (1,665) <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> (712) <EPS-PRIMARY> (0.02) <EPS-DILUTED> (0.02)