Leaders agreed to come up with "indicative guidelines" to tackle trade imbalances affecting world growth. Tensions had been high between some delegations over how to correct distortions in currency and trade. Some fear the conflict, chiefly between China and the US, may threaten growth.

However, the agreement to develop new guidelines to prevent so-called "currency wars" fell well short of the 4% limit on national trade deficits and surpluses proposed by the US, which had been blocked by China and Germany - the world's two largest exporters.

In a separate development, UN Secretary General Ban Ki-moon is expected later on Friday to urge the leaders to keep their aid promises to the world's poor, despite economic uncertainties.