Oil futures are higher in Asian trading hours following the release of upbeat data from China. Value-added industrial output in China rose 10.0% in November from a year earlier, data from the National Bureau of Statistics showed Tuesday. The data is in line with a similar forecast by 11 economists in a Dow Jones Newswires survey. Although November’s growth was slightly lower than October’s increase, it added to positive sentiment generated over the weekend when data showed that the world’s second-largest economy in November posted its largest trade surplus in nearly five years. Exports rose by a hefty 12.7% from a year earlier, while imports rose 5.3%. “This points to steady growth in China, helping crude-oil prices which are also getting a lift from winter demand,” said Kaname Gokon, a deputy general manager in the research section at Tokyo-based brokerage Okato Shoji Co. 8705.TO +1.58% Okato Holdings Inc. Japan: […]