<ARTICLE> 5 <LEGEND> THE FINANCIAL DATA SCHEDULE CONTAINS SUMMARY FINANCIAL INFORMATION EXTRACTED FROM [Identidy specific financial statements] AND IS QUALIFIED IN ITS ENTIRETY BY REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS. </LEGEND> <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 3-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> DEC-31-1998 <PERIOD-END> MAR-31-1998 <CASH> 99,824 <SECURITIES> 2,876,528 <RECEIVABLES> 0 <ALLOWANCES> 0 <INVENTORY> 8,717,601 <CURRENT-ASSETS> 8,817,425 <PP&E> 1,039,145 <DEPRECIATION> (371,986) <TOTAL-ASSETS> 13,788,435 <CURRENT-LIABILITIES> 11,622,092 <BONDS> 1,276,916 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 1,147,870 <COMMON> 14,263 <OTHER-SE> 577,294 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 13,788,435 <SALES> 2,802,605 <TOTAL-REVENUES> 3,056,142 <CGS> 303,037 <TOTAL-COSTS> 2,655,524 <OTHER-EXPENSES> 0 <LOSS-PROVISION> 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 304,571 <INCOME-PRETAX> 435,619 <INCOME-TAX> 0 <INCOME-CONTINUING> 435,619 <DISCONTINUED> 0 <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> 435,619 <EPS-PRIMARY> 0.17 <EPS-DILUTED> 0.10