Pakistan Stock Exchange Rebounds with Unexpected Rally Despite Rising Unemployment
Karachi, November 27, 2025 – The Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) defied expectations Wednesday, staging a notable recovery rally and snapping a three-session losing streak. The benchmark KSE-100 index closed at 163,188.53 points,a substantial gain of 1,496.04 points – or 0.93 percent - fueled by late-session buying activity.
the surge comes at a time of economic headwinds, with Pakistan’s unemployment rate recently reaching a 21-year high of 7.1 percent.The increase, attributed by the planning minister to the impact of the IMF program and climate-related disruptions, saw the number of unemployed rise by 31 percent, adding 1.4 million individuals to bring the total to 5.9 million between 2020-21 and 2024-25.
Despite a volatile opening and initial selling pressure, the market found support from value-hunters, according to Ali Najib, Deputy Head of Trading at Arif Habib Ltd. “Signs of recovery emerged despite a flattish opening, during which the market quickly came under selling pressure. Though,value-hunters stepped in,providing much-needed support and helping the benchmark rebound into positive territory by the close,” Najib stated.
The rally was largely driven by strong performance from key sectors,with Fauji Fertiliser,Meezan Bank,Habib Bank,National Bank,and Oil and Gas advancement Company collectively contributing around 1,058 points to the index’s gains.
Trading volume also saw an increase, rising 7.76 percent to 636.4 million shares, with a corresponding 39.59 percent jump in traded value to Rs30.9 billion. WorldCall Telecom led in volume, with 47 million shares traded.
Analysts at Topline Securities Ltd.anticipate continued positive momentum as the rollover week progresses, predicting the index could approach the 165,000 level in the remaining two trading sessions. The KSE-100 index fluctuated between an intraday high of 163,397.24 and a low of 160,564.86 during Wednesday’s session.
