BEIJING (Reuters) - China’s factory activity expanded at the fastest pace in more than three years in November, while growth in the services sector also hit a multi-year high, as the country’s economic recovery from the coronavirus pandemic stepped up.

SYDNEY (Reuters) - World shares paused to assess a record-busting month on Monday as the prospect of a vaccine-driven economic recovery next year and yet more free money from central banks eclipsed immediate concerns about the coronavirus pandemic.

TOKYO (Reuters) - Japan’s factory output probably grew for a fifth straight month in October and retail sales likely rebounded for the first time in eight months, a Reuters poll showed on Friday, offering further signs that the economy is gradually recovering from the COVID-19 pandemic.

TOKYO (Reuters) - The dollar held steady in thin trade on Friday but was on track for weekly losses against a basket of major currencies as it remained under pressure on improving risk appetite.

TOKYO (Reuters) - Oil prices were mixed on Friday in quiet trade due to the U.S. Thanksgiving holiday, with West Texas Intermediate (WTI) dropping more than 1% amid concerns about oversupply and doubts about a vaccine to end the coronavirus pandemic.

BEIJING (Reuters) - Profits at China’s industrial firms grew in October for a sixth consecutive month and at their quickest pace since early 2017, pointing to a steady recovery in the manufacturing sector after it was hard hit by the COVID-19 pandemic.