11.   Investors said the proposals contained few surprises and had little impact on shares of most health-care companies.

12.   James A. Moore, a managing director with Deutsche Banc Alex Brown Inc. who works in San Francisco, said the earnings report contained few surprises.

13.   Most of the contents of the report have been leaked to the press for weeks, so it contained few surprises.

14.   Neither Dole nor Gingrich released any details of the remainder of the budget compromise, but other legislators and staff aides said it contains few surprises.

15.   On a day containing few surprises, the other nominations largely took their cue from the best picture list.

16.   Others familiar with the history and archeology of the ancient frankincense trade said the new findings appeared to contain no surprises.

17.   The advance may be tempered if two inflation reports scheduled for release in the days ahead contain any unpleasant surprises.

18.   The advance may be tempered in days ahead if two inflation reports scheduled for release contain any unpleasant surprises.

19.   The final version of the plan contained few surprises, and most of the details were the same as in a previous draft released earlier this year.

20.   The first package the LDP unveiled last month contained few surprises and failed to boost the yen.