Oil above $79 on bullish China data; awaits EIA data

* Bullish Chinese output data buoys sentiment

* US market closed; EIA inventory data delayed to Thursday

* OPEC monthly oil report due later

By Jennifer Tan

SINGAPORE, Nov 11 (Reuters) - Oil rose above $79 a barrel on Wednesday, after dipping a day earlier, as signs of robust economic growth in China offset mildly bearish U.S. industry data showing surprise builds in crude and distillate stockpiles.

The dollar slipped but stayed above recent 15-month lows against a basket of currencies as investors paused for breath after a spike in the euro and higher-yielders, while Japan's benchmark Nikkei .N225 edged up 0.2 percent as the yen's advance against the dollar limited gains. [FRX/]

Data released on Wednesday showed that industrial output growth in the world's No. 2 oil user spurted to a 19-month high in the year to October, underlining the Chinese economy's brisk recovery from the global downturn in response to massive fiscal and monetary stimulus.

The U.S. market is closed on Wednesday for a national holiday, so traders will scour inventory data by the Energy Information Administration, due on Thursday, for further clues on the outlook for demand from the world's top energy consumer.

A monthly report by producer group OPEC, due later in the day, could also offer clues on the outlook for global oil demand.