If you set your expectations low enough, you will not be disappointed.

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Low expectations set the table for positive reactions to earnings reports, and we saw plenty of those last week.

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At least when set against retailers' low expectations, that is something to celebrate.

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Valuation levels are decent across the market at this point, and the earnings expectations bar is set so low that there is little room for disappointment.

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When Jay Leno strolls onto his new set tonight he'll be facing some mighty low expectations.

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Interestingly, the company has done a good job of managing Wall Street expectations, and the bar has been set low.

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Publishers balked at Amazon's strategy out of concern that low prices could cannibalize their print sales, set unrealistic expectations in the minds of consumers, and lead Amazon to demand e-book price concessions from publishers.

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It should set benchmark standards, not lower its expectations to conform to low standards world-wide. (Some other countries permit passengers to board carrying the sort of potential weapons the TSA plans to allow.) Mr. Pistole is concerned about the amount of time spent searching for small knives when personnel would do better to focus on looking for explosives.

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Alcoa after the closing bell Monday, Quirk thinks the bar is set so low that even a lukewarm batch of reports could be enough to top expectations and keep the rally going.

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Add to that a low financial bar set by depressed conditions in 2006, and companies in the business may well beat Wall Street expectations on earnings later this year.

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