Oil prices rose Monday as China’s manufacturing growth held steady at a modest pace in November. Brent crude, a benchmark for international oils, was up 44 cents to $110.13 a barrel at midafternoon Kuala Lumpur time on the ICE futures exchange in London. Benchmark U.S. crude for January delivery added 48 cents to $93.34 a barrel in electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange. The contract fell 41 cents to close at $93.68 on Friday. Chinese manufacturing barely expanded in November, growing at about the same rate as the previous month, two surveys showed in evidence that growth in the world’s No. 2 economy was continuing but at a modest pace. HSBC’s purchasing managers’ index released Monday slipped to 50.8 from 50.9 in October. Although November’s reading was little changed, HSBC said it was the second-highest level in eight months, indicating China’s massive […]