Davos: Much optimism, little progress

Global trade chiefs meeting in Switzerland spoke today of their optimism that a new deal to liberalise international commerce can be finalised, but offered little in the way of concrete progress to indicate they can reach agreement before the end of the year.

Meanwhile, about 60 protesters marched down the street behind the Congress Centre in Davos where the World Economic Forum’s annual meeting was winding down and the event was peaceful until a brief skirmish near a railway station close to the venue.