Jakarta (ANTARA) – Demand for gold bars and coins in Indonesia jumped 47 percent in the first quarter of 2026 from the previous year, according to the World Gold Council (WGC).The surging demand reflected global trends as investors sought refuge amid economic uncertainty throughout the first quarter.“Historically, gold has proven to be one of the most reliable crisis hedges for Indonesians,” WGC’s Head of Asia-Pacific (ex-China) and Global Head of Central Banks, Shaokai Fan, said in a virtual press briefing.He noted that during the Asian financial crisis of 1997 to 1998 gold helped preserve purchasing power as the rupiah depreciated sharply.This pattern has repeated during periods of currency weakness and market stress making gold a preferred asset for domestic investors.Gold outperformed most equities and bonds in 2025 and rose 14 percent in rupiah terms during the first quarter of 2026.In contrast domestic stocks fell 13 percent during the same period according to the performance data shared by the council.Over the past two decades gold has delivered average annual returns of about 15 percent when measured in the local currency.“WGC analysis concludes that even a 2.5 percent allocation to gold can improve the quality of Indonesian investors’ portfolios by reducing concentration risk and strengthening diversification,” Fan said.Globally, gold demand reached 1,231 tonnes in Q1, up 2 percent year-on-year, according to WGC’s Gold Demand Trends report.While volume growth was modest the value of demand surged to a record US$193 billion for a 74 percent increase from a year earlier.Retail investors worldwide drove the increase with demand for bars and coins rising 42 percent to 474 tonnes globally.China led the surge, with demand up 67 percent to a record 207 tonnes, surpassing its previous quarterly high of 155 tonnes in 2013.Other Asian markets, including India, South Korea and Japan, also recorded higher purchases, contributing to what WGC described as a structural shift in global gold demand.Strong growth was also seen in the United States and Europe, where demand rose 14 percent and 50 percent respectively.Fan said the momentum underscores gold’s enduring appeal as a safe-haven asset amid inflationary pressures and geopolitical risks.