New Delhi: Rising gold prices are spurring Indian investors to buy bars and coins, with record purchases worth $10 billion in the September quarter lifting their share of total consumption to an all-time high, the World Gold Council said on Thursday.

Gold has become a mainstream asset as investors diversify portfolios and boost allocations, even among those with little prior exposure, said Sachin Jain, CEO of WGC’s India operations.

“We believe investors’ interest in gold will continue and grow in the coming quarters,” he said.

Investment demand in the world’s second-largest gold consumer jumped 20% year on year in September quarter to 91.6 metric tons, or 67% in value terms to $10.2 billion, the WGC said.

Overall gold consumption, however, fell 16% to 209.4 tons as jewellery demand s

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