<ARTICLE> BD <MULTIPLIER> 1,000 <PERIOD-TYPE> 6-MOS <FISCAL-YEAR-END> SEP-25-1998 <PERIOD-START> SEP-27-1997 <PERIOD-END> MAR-27-1998 <CASH> 706 <RECEIVABLES> 33,391 <SECURITIES-RESALE> 2,676 <SECURITIES-BORROWED> 650 <INSTRUMENTS-OWNED> 25,549 <PP&E> 1,541 <TOTAL-ASSETS> 68,756 <SHORT-TERM> 2,100 <PAYABLES> 56,812 <REPOS-SOLD> 0 <SECURITIES-LOANED> 0 <INSTRUMENTS-SOLD> 677 <LONG-TERM> 1,648 <PREFERRED-MANDATORY> 0 <PREFERRED> 0 <COMMON> 30 <OTHER-SE> 7,489 <TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY> 68,756 <TRADING-REVENUE> 3,062 <INTEREST-DIVIDENDS> 2,033 <COMMISSIONS> 11,292 <INVESTMENT-BANKING-REVENUES> 8,276 <FEE-REVENUE> 0 <INTEREST-EXPENSE> 1,358 <COMPENSATION> 18,546 <INCOME-PRETAX> (563) <INCOME-PRE-EXTRAORDINARY> (563) <EXTRAORDINARY> 0 <CHANGES> 0 <NET-INCOME> (385) <EPS-PRIMARY> (.26) <EPS-DILUTED> (.26)