First Brands: why a maker of spark plugs and wiper blades has Wall Street worried

Investors fear that the collapse of the car parts company - and the size of its debt - could portend wider problems

Financial problems at the maker of spark plugs, wiper blades, brake calipers, brake shoes, tow hitches and motor oil has caused intense anxiety on Wall Street in recent weeks.

Car parts are not usually something that causes finance chiefs to lose much sleep. But the potentially multi-billion dollar financial crisis surrounding First Brands has them rattled.