Increased demand boosted global manufacturing activity last month as U.S. factories expanded at their fastest pace in 2-1/2 years and Chinese output suggested improvement in the world's second largest economy.

The 17-country euro zone's manufacturing sector also showed improvement in November.

Britain reported its strongest factory growth in almost three years, while recent Japanese data revealed manufacturing grew at its fastest clip in more than seven years as export orders soared.

Mexico, too, is rebounding.

(READ the full story from Reuters)