Data released by the commerce and industry ministry showed the infrastructure sector, spanning coal, crude oil, natural gas, refinery products, fertilisers, steel, cement and electricity, rose an annual 3.1% in Oct, higher than the previous month's 2.4% but lower than the 12.7% in Oct last year.

• This comes after a revised 2.4% growth in September, providing a positive signal for the country’s infrastructure output.
• The core sector accounts for nearly 41% of the index of industrial production and the improvement is likely to reflect in the factory output data expected next month.
• The October growth follows a contraction to a 22-month low of 0.1% in August, highlighting signs of a gradual rebound.
• Industrial production also picked up in September, registering 3.1% growth, reinforcing hopes of recovery in the manufacturing sector.