<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE> 7
<LEGEND>
THIS  SCHEDULE  CONTAINS  SUMMARY  FINANCIAL   INFORMATION  EXTRACTED  FROM  THE
FINANCIAL  STATEMENTS  FILED  HEREWITH  AND  IS  QUALIFIED  IN ITS  ENTIRETY  BY
REFERENCE TO SUCH FINANCIAL STATEMENTS.
</LEGEND>
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000,000
       
<S>                                        <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                              YEAR
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                             DEC-31-1998
<PERIOD-END>                                  DEC-31-1998
<DEBT-HELD-FOR-SALE>                             566
<DEBT-CARRYING-VALUE>                              0
<DEBT-MARKET-VALUE>                                0
<EQUITIES>                                       437
<MORTGAGE>                                        11
<REAL-ESTATE>                                      0
<TOTAL-INVEST>                                  1014
<CASH>                                            81 <F1>
<RECOVER-REINSURE>                               630
<DEFERRED-ACQUISITION>                            47
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                  2144
<POLICY-LOSSES>                                  550
<UNEARNED-PREMIUMS>                              478
<POLICY-OTHER>                                     0
<POLICY-HOLDER-FUNDS>                              0
<NOTES-PAYABLE>                                   46
<PREFERRED-MANDATORY>                            409 <F2>
<PREFERRED>                                        0
<COMMON>                                          10
<OTHER-SE>                                       409
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                    2144
<PREMIUMS>                                       396
<INVESTMENT-INCOME>                               64
<INVESTMENT-GAINS>                                25
<OTHER-INCOME>                                   130 <F3>
<BENEFITS>                                       175
<UNDERWRITING-AMORTIZATION>                       66
<UNDERWRITING-OTHER>                             201 <F4>
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                  156
<INCOME-TAX>                                      51
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                              104
<DISCONTINUED>                                    30 <F5>
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                    0
<CHANGES>                                          0
<NET-INCOME>                                     134
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                    4.59<F6><F7>
<EPS-DILUTED>                                    4.21<F6><F8>
<RESERVE-OPEN>                                   277
<PROVISION-CURRENT>                              565
<PROVISION-PRIOR>                                 47
<PAYMENTS-CURRENT>                               141
<PAYMENTS-PRIOR>                                 197
<RESERVE-CLOSE>                                  550
<CUMULATIVE-DEFICIENCY>                            0
        

<FN>
<F1>Cash includes short-term investments.
<F2>Company obligated mandatorily  redeemable capital securities and convertible
capital securities  classified at mezzanine level on Consolidated  Statements of
Financial Position.
<F3>Includes gain on sale of IRI.
<F4>Includes  engineering  services,  underwriting  and  inspection and interest
expense.
<F5>Net gain on discontinued operations of Radian, after tax.
<F6>Reflects the impact of three-for-two stock split approved by the Board
of Directors on April 21, 1998 for net income.
<F7>Per SFAS No. 128 "Earnings per Share", this item represents EPS-Basic.
<F8>Per SFAS No. 128 "Earnings  per Share",  this item  represents  EPS-Assuming
Dilution.
</FN>

 

</TABLE>