China's factory activity likely expanded at a slightly faster pace in November, a Reuters poll showed on Friday, as the world's second-largest economy steadily recovers from the coronavirus crisis. The official manufacturing Purchasing Manager's Index (PMI) is expected to rise slightly to 51.5 in November from October's 51.4, according to the median forecast of 22 economists polled by Reuters. A reading above 50 indicates an expansion in activity on a monthly basis. China's vast industrial sector is steadily returning to the levels seen before the pandemic paralysed huge swathes of the economy early this year.