China’s Evergrande crisis: clock ticking as crucial debt default deadline looms

A default by the property giant could have far-reaching consequences for China and the global economy

The rescue of embattled Chinese property company Evergrande appears to have stalled, leaving the developer on the brink of default and threatening to unleash contagion through the country's giant real estate sector, home prices and the economy.

The problems enveloping Evergrande, which has eyewatering total debts of $305bn, have hung over global financial markets in recent weeks and helped curb China's post-pandemic recovery.