After a difficult start to the year, China's factories have perked up in recent months, buoyed by a government infrastructure building spree and a housing boom that is starting to show signs of fatigue.
Growth has also accelerated in the services sector to levels not seen since 2014, pointing to improvement not only in heavy industries like steel but also in the broader economy.
The official Purchasing Managers' Index (PMI) rose to 51.7 in November from previous month's 51.2 and above the 50-point mark that separates growth from contraction on a monthly basis.
