What's going on?

China�s making the rest of us feel small: fresh data released on Monday showed the country�s economic activity climbing to new highs in November.

What does this mean?

The data � based on surveys that ask business managers how busy they�ve been compared to the month before � painted a promising picture for the Chinese economy. The country�s manufacturing sector hit its highest activity level in three years, driven by both strong domestic demand and a boost in exports ahead of the Christmas period. Likewise, its services sector � which covers everything from accountancy to hospitality � hit levels not seen since 2012, suggesting life is returning to something resembling � whisper it � normal.

Why should I care?

The bigger picture: Bring on the vaccine.

This data highlights China�s status as the only major economy expected to grow this year. Unlike the US and Europe � where lockdowns are causing even more economic shrinkage � the country has managed to avoid a coronavirus surge now winter�s arrived. And the best could be still to come: some economists reckon the Chinese economy will get another lift when a vaccine becomes widely available, with the US and Europe�s economic recoveries driving demand for its goods. But others argue it might have the opposite effect: anyone with a vaccination might, after all, go straight back to spending their money on restaurants, concerts, and� well, real life.

For markets: Sync or swim.
One investment advisor says investors should think about investing more money in China � and not just because of the country�s role as global economic bright spot. He thinks it�s especially appealing because the worsening US-China trade war might knock the two countries� economies further out of sync. In other words, Chinese stocks won�t depend as heavily on the West�s performance � and they might just save your portfolio if things go wrong over here.