Group 1 - The core viewpoint of the article emphasizes the relationship between carbon black prices and futures, highlighting the importance of carbon black as an industrial raw material widely used in various industries such as rubber, plastics, inks, and coatings [2] Group 2 - Background and influencing factors of carbon black prices include the supply-demand relationship of raw materials, production processes and technology, and the demand from the rubber industry [3][4] - The price of carbon black is significantly affected by fluctuations in coal prices, which is its primary raw material, as well as advancements in production technology and the overall economic conditions of the global rubber market [3][4][5] Group 3 - Carbon black futures are defined as futures contracts with carbon black as the underlying asset, providing a standardized trading platform for price discovery, risk management, and speculative trading [6] - The futures market allows participants to lock in future delivery prices, thereby mitigating the impact of price volatility, and also offers opportunities for speculative trading to gain investment returns [6][7] Group 4 - The interaction between carbon black prices and futures creates a dynamic market environment, influenced by various factors including environmental policies and regulations that affect production and usage [4][5]