Secondly, the ever more short-term outlook of capital, its focus on shareholder value and its demand for high minimum returns, undermine stability, long-term growth of companies, and secure employment, all of which remain key interests for workers and trade unions. The latter are however seriously affected by the tendency of finance capital to flow towards short-term profit opportunities. Hence, the contradiction of interests between labour and capital are further sharpened, but labour can exercise very little influence on the international flow of finance capital.