But the window into North Korea's nuclear intentions and American policy in response was as blurry as ever.
But the same thing applies to public policy in response to depression, in the seemingly opposite direction.
Historically, the central bank has taken a dim view of changing policy in response to a natural disaster, even a big one.
Still, Mr. Bernanke's move was nothing if not a Greenspanian display of "discretionary" policy in response to trouble but before the signs of an economic downturn were unambiguous.
German papers mulled over Merkel's dramatic wavering in policy in response to the unfolding disaster at the Fukushima plant in Japan.
He said he expected the government to tweak policy in response, favoring consumers, smaller companies and lower-income families, rather than producers, big companies and rich families.
Stock market investors appeared to be betting Thursday that Chinese leaders would be forced to ease policy in response to the latest trade figures.
That should boost shoppers' morale (and their spending).Third, many emerging economies have tightened monetary policy in response to high inflation.
His position is a refutation of former Fed chairman Alan Greenspan's doctrine that the central bank should not adjust policy in response to financial sector excesses, but instead should concentrate on reacting to any problems that subsequently arise.
President Bush's plan makes sense: focus on a reasonable approach to slow, stop and then reverse growth in greenhouse gas emissions; don't wreck the economy in the process; and adjust future policy in response to scientific and technical progress.
There is a great debate going on in Washington about whether the US should change its China policy in response to Beijing's more assertive stance under President Xi Jinping.
