TOKYO (AP) — World stock markets mostly rose Tuesday on improved economic data from Japan and the eurozone as well as hopes for more central bank stimulus.

Meanwhile, the International Monetary Fund's inclusion of the yuan in its basket of major currencies raised confidence in China's progress toward financial liberalization.

KEEPING SCORE: Germany's DAX fell 0.1 percent to 11,369.21 and France's CAC 40 edged 0.2 percent lower to 4,948.98. Britain's FTSE 100 gained 0.5 percent to 6,385.32. Wall Street appeared poised for a move back into positive territory. Dow and S&P 500 futures added 0.3 percent.

JAPAN DATA: Japanese shares rose above the psychological benchmark of 20,000 on news that the monthly Nikkei survey of factory purchasing managers rose to 52.6 points in November, the highest reading in 20 months and up from 52.4 in October. The index is based on a 100-point scale, with the 50-point mark separating expansion from contraction. Meanwhile, a survey on factory investment showed a higher than expected 5.4 percent rise in July-September from the previous quarter.

CHINA MANUFACTURING: An official survey showed Chinese manufacturing at its weakest in more than three years in November, though service industries improved. The manufacturing index based on a survey of factory purchasing managers slipped to 49.6 in November from 49.8 the previous month.

EUROZONE JOBS: The unemployment rate in the 19-country eurozone edged down to a near four-year low of 10.7 percent in October. The drop shows the labor market is improving gradually, though the figures are not expected to keep the European Central Bank from offering more monetary stimulus on Thursday. ECB head Mario Draghi has signaled the regional bank could expand the ECB's bond-buying program or cut interest rates.

CHINA CURRENCY: The inclusion of the yuan with the dollar, pound, euro and yen in the IMF's yardstick basket reflects the rising importance of China's economy and its currency. IMF chief Christine Lagarde called it an "important milestone." The decision was based on the volume of exports involving the yuan and its use in the financial markets, among other factors. The yuan stayed in a narrow range on Tuesday.

THE QUOTE: The yuan's "inclusion is unlikely to have great impact on short-term demand" for the currency, said IG market strategist Bernard Aw in a report. "What's more important is perhaps the boost to President Xi's efforts to liberalize China's financial markets."

ASIA'S DAY: Japan's Nikkei 225 gained 1.3 percent to 20,012.40 and Hong Kong's Hang Seng jumped 1.8 percent to 22,381.35. South Korea's Kospi rose 1.6 percent to 2,023.93 and Australia's S&P/ASX 200 added 1.9 percent to 5,266.10. The Shanghai Composite Index rose 0.3 percent to 3,456.31.

ENERGY: Benchmark U.S. crude rose 0.1 percent to $41.70 a barrel in electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange. It fell 6 cents on Monday to $41.65 a barrel.

CURRENCIES: The U.S. dollar slipped to 123.15 yen from 123.25 yen on Monday. The euro rose to $1.0602 from $1.0569.

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