NEW YORK (AFP) - Debt-crippled Chinese real estate giant Evergrande's troubles are being watched closely by foreign investors, but markets do not seem to fear a major contagion, at least so far. With a debt load of US$300 billion (S$403 billion), the threat of bankruptcy is real, especially as Evergrande hinted on Tuesday (Sept 14) that it may not be able to pay its creditors. However, IG France analyst Alexandre Baradez said "the market is not surprised as it may have been by Lehman Brothers", the American banking giant whose spectacular collapse in 2008 was the spark that ignited the global financial crisis. "Lehman was a shock: a well-rated bank that disappeared overnight," Mr Baradez told AFP. But with the Chinese firm "investors are preparing". A Mainly Domestic Problem With a presence in more than 280 cities, Evergrande is one of the largest private companies in China and one of its leading real estate developers. Crippled with debt, the firm saw its Hong Kong-listed shares collapse this year on mounting fears for its financial health. The Chinese government seems determined to get control of the Evergrande situation, even if it means forcing the company to go out of business...