<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE>                BD
<LEGEND>
     This schedule  contains summary  financial  information  extracted from the
Company's  consolidated  financial  statements contained in the Company's Annual
Report  on Form 10-K and is  qualified  in its  entirety  by  reference  to such
consolidated financial statements.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER>             1,000
       


<S>                      <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>            12-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>        SEP-30-1998
<PERIOD-END>             SEP-30-1998
<CASH>                                                                   66,960
<RECEIVABLES>                                                           282,377
<SECURITIES-RESALE>                                                           0
<SECURITIES-BORROWED>                                                         0
<INSTRUMENTS-OWNED>                                                      31,677
<PP&E>                                                                   16,762
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                                          606,668
<SHORT-TERM>                                                                  0
<PAYABLES>                                                              251,789
<REPOS-SOLD>                                                                  0
<SECURITIES-LOANED>                                                           0
<INSTRUMENTS-SOLD>                                                       18,123
<LONG-TERM>                                                                   0
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                                                         0
<PREFERRED>                                                                   0
<COMMON>                                                                154,383
<OTHER-SE>                                                              182,373
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                                            606,668
<TRADING-REVENUE>                                                       105,861
<INTEREST-DIVIDENDS>                                                     27,236
<COMMISSIONS>                                                            49,725
<INVESTMENT-BANKING-REVENUES>                                            91,332
<FEE-REVENUE>                                                            88,539
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                                        3,628
<COMPENSATION>                                                          187,065
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                                          70,544
<INCOME-PRE-EXTRAORDINARY>                                               70,544
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                                               0
<CHANGES>                                                                     0
<NET-INCOME>                                                             40,211
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                                              1.64 <F1>
<EPS-DILUTED>                                                              1.51 <F1>

        
<FN>
<F1> Reflects basic and diluted EPS, respectively, prepared in accordance with
SFAS No. 128.
</FN>

</TABLE>