RBC Capital Markets®
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Filed Pursuant to Rule 424(b)(2)
Registration Statement No. 333-227001
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Pricing Supplement
Dated October 29, 2018
To the Product Prospectus Supplement ERN-ETF-1 Dated September 11, 2018, Prospectus Supplement Dated September 7, 2018, and Prospectus
Dated September 7, 2018
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$1,038,000
Absolute Return Barrier Notes Linked to
the SPDR® S&P® 500 ETF Trust, due
August 3, 2021
Royal Bank of Canada
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Per Note
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Total
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Price to public
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100.00%
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$1,038,000
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Underwriting discounts and commissions(1)
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2.25%
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$23,355
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Proceeds to Royal Bank of Canada
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97.75%
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$1,014,645
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Absolute Return Barrier Notes Linked to the
SPDR® S&P® 500 ETF Trust
Royal Bank of Canada
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Issuer:
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Royal Bank of Canada (“Royal Bank”)
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Issue:
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Senior Global Medium-Term Notes, Series H
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Underwriter:
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RBC Capital Markets, LLC
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Reference Asset:
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The SPDR® S&P® 500 ETF Trust (Bloomberg symbol: SPY)
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Currency:
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U.S. Dollars
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Minimum
Investment:
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$1,000 and minimum denominations of $1,000 in excess thereof
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Pricing Date:
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October 29, 2018
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Issue Date:
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November 1, 2018
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CUSIP:
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78013GGY5
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Valuation Date:
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July 29, 2021
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Payment at Maturity
(if held to maturity):
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If, on the Valuation Date, the Final Level is greater than or equal to the Initial Level, then the investor will receive
the lesser of:
· $1,000 + ($1,000 x Percentage Change)
· the Maximum Redemption Amount
If, on the Valuation Date, the Final Level is less than the Initial Level, but greater than or equal to the Barrier Level, then the investor will receive an
amount calculated as follows:
$1,000 + [-1 x ($1,000 x Percentage Change)]
In this case, the return on the Notes will be positive, even though the price of the Reference Asset has decreased.
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|
However, if, on the Valuation Date, the Final Level is less than the Barrier Level, then the investor will receive at maturity, for each
$1,000 in principal amount, a number of shares of the Reference Asset equal to the Physical Delivery Amount (or at our election, the cash value of those shares).
In this case, you will lose a significant portion, or possibly even all, of the principal amount.
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Percentage Change:
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The Percentage Change, expressed as a percentage, is calculated using the following formula:
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Absolute Return Barrier Notes Linked to the
SPDR® S&P® 500 ETF Trust
Royal Bank of Canada
|
Physical Delivery
Amount:
|
For each $1,000 in principal amount, a number of shares of the Reference Asset equal to the principal amount divided by the Initial Level,
subject to adjustment as described in the product prospectus supplement. If this number is not a round number, then the number of shares of the Reference Asset to be delivered will be rounded down and the fractional part shall be paid in
cash.
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Cash Delivery
Amount:
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The product of the Physical Delivery Amount multiplied by the Final Level
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Initial Level:
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$263.86, which was the closing price of the Reference Asset on the Pricing Date.
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Final Level:
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The closing price of the Reference Asset on the Valuation Date.
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Maximum
Redemption
Amount:
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124% multiplied by the principal amount
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Barrier Level:
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$197.90, which is 75% of the Initial Level, rounded to two decimal places
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Maturity Date:
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August 3, 2021, subject to extension for market and other disruptions, as described in the product prospectus supplement.
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Principal at Risk:
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The Notes are NOT principal
protected. You may lose all or a substantial portion of your principal amount at maturity if the Final Level is less than the Barrier Level.
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Calculation Agent:
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RBCCM
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U.S. Tax Treatment:
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By purchasing a Note, each holder agrees (in the absence of a change in law, an administrative determination or a judicial ruling to the
contrary) to treat the Notes as a pre-paid derivative contract for U.S. federal income tax purposes. However, the U.S. federal income tax consequences of your investment in the Notes are uncertain and the Internal Revenue Service could
assert that the Notes should be taxed in a manner that is different from that described in the preceding sentence. Please see the section below, “Supplemental Discussion of U.S. Federal Income Tax Consequences,” and the discussion
(including the opinion of our counsel Morrison & Foerster LLP) in the product prospectus supplement dated September 11, 2018 under “Supplemental Discussion of U.S. Federal Income Tax Consequences,” which apply to the Notes.
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Secondary Market:
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RBCCM (or one of its affiliates), though not obligated to do so, may maintain a secondary market in the Notes after the
Issue Date. The amount that you may receive upon sale of your Notes prior to maturity may be less than the principal amount of your Notes.
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Listing:
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The Notes will not be listed on any securities exchange.
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Clearance and
Settlement:
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DTC global (including through its indirect participants Euroclear and Clearstream, Luxembourg as described under
“Description of Debt Securities—Ownership and Book-Entry Issuance” in the prospectus dated September 7, 2018).
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Terms Incorporated
in the Master Note:
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All of the terms appearing above the item captioned “Secondary Market” on the cover page and pages P-2 and P-3 of this pricing supplement
and the terms appearing under the caption “General Terms of the Notes” in the product prospectus supplement, as modified by this pricing supplement.
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Absolute Return Barrier Notes Linked to the
SPDR® S&P® 500 ETF Trust
Royal Bank of Canada
|
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Absolute Return Barrier Notes Linked to the
SPDR® S&P® 500 ETF Trust
Royal Bank of Canada
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Hypothetical Initial Level:
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$100.00*
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Hypothetical Barrier Level:
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$75.00, which is 75.00% of the hypothetical Initial Level
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Maximum Redemption Amount:
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124% multiplied by the principal amount
|
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Principal Amount:
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$1,000 per Note
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Final Level
|
Reference Asset
Return
|
Payment at Maturity
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Physical Delivery
Amount as Number of
Shares of the
Reference Asset
|
Cash Delivery
Amount
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$150.00
|
50.00%
|
$1,240.00
|
n/a
|
n/a
|
$140.00
|
40.00%
|
$1,240.00
|
n/a
|
n/a
|
$130.00
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30.00%
|
$1,240.00
|
n/a
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n/a
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$124.00
|
24.00%
|
$1,240.00
|
n/a
|
n/a
|
$120.00
|
20.00%
|
$1,200.00
|
n/a
|
n/a
|
$115.00
|
15.00%
|
$1,150.00
|
n/a
|
n/a
|
$110.00
|
10.00%
|
$1,100.00
|
n/a
|
n/a
|
$105.00
|
5.00%
|
$1,050.00
|
n/a
|
n/a
|
$100.00
|
0.00%
|
$1,000.00
|
n/a
|
n/a
|
$95.00
|
-5.00%
|
$1,050.00
|
n/a
|
n/a
|
$90.00
|
-10.00%
|
$1,100.00
|
n/a
|
n/a
|
$85.00
|
-15.00%
|
$1,150.00
|
n/a
|
n/a
|
$80.00
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-20.00%
|
$1,200.00
|
n/a
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n/a
|
$75.00
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-25.00%
|
$1,250.00
|
n/a
|
n/a
|
$74.99
|
-25.01%
|
Physical or Cash Delivery Amount
|
10
|
$749.90
|
$70.00
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-30.00%
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Physical or Cash Delivery Amount
|
10
|
$700.00
|
$60.00
|
-40.00%
|
Physical or Cash Delivery Amount
|
10
|
$600.00
|
$50.00
|
-50.00%
|
Physical or Cash Delivery Amount
|
10
|
$500.00
|
$40.00
|
-60.00%
|
Physical or Cash Delivery Amount
|
10
|
$400.00
|
$30.00
|
-70.00%
|
Physical or Cash Delivery Amount
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10
|
$300.00
|
$20.00
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-80.00%
|
Physical or Cash Delivery Amount
|
10
|
$200.00
|
$10.00
|
-90.00%
|
Physical or Cash Delivery Amount
|
10
|
$100.00
|
$0.00
|
-100.00%
|
Physical or Cash Delivery Amount
|
10
|
$0.00
|
|
|
Absolute Return Barrier Notes Linked to the
SPDR® S&P® 500 ETF Trust
Royal Bank of Canada
|
· |
Principal at Risk — Investors in the Notes could lose all or a substantial portion of their principal
amount if the share price of the Reference Asset decreases. If the Final Level is less than the Barrier Level, the amount of cash or the value of the shares that you receive is expected to be less than 25% of the principal amount, and
could even be zero. Further, if you receive shares of the Reference Asset, they could further decline in value between the Valuation Date and the maturity date.
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· |
The Notes Do Not Pay Interest and Your Return May Be Lower than the Return on a Conventional Debt Security of
Comparable Maturity — There will be no periodic interest payments on the Notes as there would be on a conventional fixed-rate or floating-rate debt security having the same maturity. The return that you will receive on the
Notes, which could be negative, may be less than the return you could earn on other investments. Even if your return is positive, your return may be less than the return you would earn if you bought a conventional senior interest
bearing debt security of Royal Bank.
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· |
Your Potential Payment at Maturity Is Limited — The Notes will provide less opportunity to participate in
the appreciation of the Reference Asset than an investment in a security linked to the Reference Asset providing full participation in the appreciation, because the payment at maturity will not exceed the Maximum Redemption Amount. In
addition, the value of any payment that you receive at maturity will not reflect any dividends paid on the Reference Asset. Accordingly, any positive return you receive on the Notes is expected to be less than your return would be if
you made an investment in the Reference Asset or a security directly linked to the positive performance of the Reference Asset.
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· |
Payments on the Notes Are Subject to Our Credit Risk, and Changes in Our Credit Ratings Are Expected to Affect the
Market Value of the Notes — The Notes are Royal Bank’s senior unsecured debt securities. As a result, your receipt of the amount due on the maturity date is dependent upon Royal Bank’s ability to repay its obligations at
that time. This will be the case even if the share price of the Reference Asset increases after the Pricing Date. No assurance can be given as to what our financial condition will be at the maturity of the Notes.
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· |
There May Not Be an Active Trading Market for the Notes—Sales in the Secondary Market May Result in Significant
Losses — There may be little or no secondary market for the Notes. The Notes will not be listed on any securities exchange. RBCCM and other affiliates of Royal Bank may make a market for the Notes; however, they are not
required to do so. RBCCM or any other affiliate of Royal Bank may stop any market-making activities at any time. Even if a secondary market for the Notes develops, it may not provide significant liquidity or trade at prices
advantageous to you. We expect that transaction costs in any secondary market would be high. As a result, the difference between bid and asked prices for your Notes in any secondary market could be substantial.
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· |
You Will Not Have Any Rights to the Securities Included in the Reference Asset — As a holder of the Notes,
you will not have voting rights or rights to receive cash dividends or other distributions or other rights that holders of securities included in the Reference Asset would have. The Final Level will not reflect any dividends paid on
the securities included in the Reference Asset, and accordingly, any positive return on the Notes may be less than the potential positive return on those securities.
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· |
The Initial Estimated Value of the Notes Is Less than the Price to the Public – The initial estimated
value set forth on the cover page of this pricing supplement does not represent a minimum price at which we, RBCCM or any of our affiliates would be willing to purchase the Notes in any secondary market (if any exists) at any time.
If you attempt to sell the Notes prior to maturity, their market value may be lower than the price you paid for them and the initial estimated value. This is due to, among other things, changes in the share price of the Reference
Asset, the borrowing rate we pay to issue securities of this kind, and the inclusion in the price to the public of the estimated costs relating to our
hedging of the Notes. These factors, together with various credit, market and economic factors over the term of the Notes, are expected to reduce the price at which you may be able to sell the Notes in any secondary market and will
affect the value of the Notes in complex and unpredictable ways. Assuming no change in market conditions or any other relevant factors, the price, if any, at which you may be able to sell your Notes prior to maturity may be less than
your original purchase price, as any such sale price would not be expected to include the hedging costs relating to the Notes. In addition to bid-ask spreads, the value of the Notes determined for any secondary market price is
expected to be based on the secondary rate rather than the internal funding rate used to price the Notes and determine the initial estimated value. As a result, the secondary price will be less than if the
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Absolute Return Barrier Notes Linked to the
SPDR® S&P® 500 ETF Trust
Royal Bank of Canada
|
· |
The Initial Estimated Value of the Notes on the Cover Page of this Pricing Supplement Is an Estimate Only,
Calculated as of the Time the Terms of the Notes Were Set –The initial estimated value of the Notes is based on the value of our obligation to make the payments on the Notes, together with the mid-market value of the
derivative embedded in the terms of the Notes. See “Structuring the Notes” below. Our estimate is based on a variety of assumptions, including our credit spreads, expectations as to dividends, interest rates and volatility, and the
expected term of the Notes. These assumptions are based on certain forecasts about future events, which may prove to be incorrect. Other entities may value the Notes or similar securities at a price that is significantly different
than we do.
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· |
Market Disruption Events and Adjustments — The payment at maturity and the Valuation Date are subject to
adjustment as described in the product prospectus supplement. For a description of what constitutes a market disruption event as well as the consequences of that market disruption event, see “General Terms of the Notes—Market
Disruption Events” in the product prospectus supplement.
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· |
Changes that Affect the Underlying Index Will Affect the Market Value of the Notes and the Amount You Will Receive
at Maturity — The policies of the sponsor of the Underlying Index (the “Index Sponsor”), concerning the calculation of the Underlying Index, additions, deletions or substitutions of the components of the Underlying Index and
the manner in which changes affecting those components, such as stock dividends, reorganizations or mergers, may be reflected in the Underlying Index and, therefore, could affect the share price of the Reference Asset, the amount
payable on the Notes at maturity, and the market value of the Notes prior to maturity. The amount payable on the Notes and their market value could also be affected if the Index Sponsor changes these policies, for example, by changing
the manner in which it calculates the Underlying Index, or if the sponsor discontinues or suspends the calculation or publication of the Underlying Index.
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Adjustments to the Reference Asset Could Adversely Affect the Notes — The investment advisor (the “Advisor”) of the Reference Asset is responsible for calculating and maintaining the Reference Asset. The Advisor can add, delete or substitute the stocks
comprising the Reference Asset. The Advisor may make other methodological changes that could change the share price of the Reference Asset at any time. If one or more of these events occurs, the calculation of the amount payable at
maturity may be adjusted to reflect such event or events. Consequently, any of these actions could adversely affect the amount payable at maturity and/or the market value of the Notes.
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· |
We Have No Affiliation with the Index Sponsor and Will Not Be Responsible for Any Actions Taken by the Index
Sponsor — The Index Sponsor is not an affiliate of ours or of CGMI, and will not be involved in the offering of the Notes in any way. Consequently,
we have no control over the actions of the Index Sponsor, including any actions of the type that would require the calculation agent to adjust the payment to you at maturity. The Index Sponsor has no obligation of any sort with
respect to the Notes. Thus, the Index Sponsor has no obligation to take your interests into consideration for any reason, including in taking any actions that might affect the value of the Notes. None of our proceeds from the issuance
of the Notes will be delivered to the Index Sponsor.
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· |
We and Our Affiliates Do Not Have Any Affiliation with the Advisor and Are Not Responsible for its Public
Disclosure of Information — We, CGMI and our respective affiliates are not affiliated with Advisor in any way and have no ability to control or predict its actions, including any errors in or discontinuance of disclosure
regarding its methods or policies relating to the Reference Asset. The Advisor is not involved in the offering of the Notes in any way and has no obligation to consider your interests as an owner of the Notes in taking any actions
relating to the Reference Asset that might affect the value of the Notes. None of us, CGMI or any of our respective affiliates has independently verified the adequacy or accuracy of the information about the Advisor or the Reference
Asset contained in any public disclosure of information. You, as an investor in the Notes, should make your own investigation into the Reference Asset.
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· |
The Correlation Between the Performance of the Reference Asset and the Performance of the Underlying Index May Be
Imperfect — The performance of the Reference Asset is linked principally to the performance of the Underlying Index. However, because of the
potential discrepancies identified in more detail in the product prospectus supplement, the return on the Reference Asset may correlate imperfectly with the return on the Underlying Index.
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|
Absolute Return Barrier Notes Linked to the
SPDR® S&P® 500 ETF Trust
Royal Bank of Canada
|
· |
The Reference Asset Is Subject to Management Risks — The Reference Asset is subject to management risk, which is the risk that the Advisor’s investment strategy,
the implementation of which is subject to a number of constraints, may not produce the intended results. For example, the Advisor may invest a portion of the Reference Asset’s assets in securities not included in the relevant
industry or sector but which the Advisor believes will help the Reference Asset track the relevant industry or sector.
|
· |
Our Business Activities May Create Conflicts of Interest — We, CGMI and our respective affiliates expect
to engage in trading activities related to the Reference Asset or the securities held by the Reference Asset that are not for the account of holders of the Notes or on their behalf. These trading activities may present a conflict
between the holders’ interests in the Notes and the interests we, CGMI and our respective affiliates will have in their proprietary accounts, in facilitating transactions, including options and other derivatives transactions, for
their customers and in accounts under their management. These trading activities, if they influence the prices of the Reference Asset, could be adverse to the interests of the holders of the Notes. We, CGMI and one or more of our
respective affiliates may, at present or in the future, engage in business with the issuers of the securities held by the Reference Asset, including making loans to or providing advisory services. These services could include
investment banking and merger and acquisition advisory services. These activities may present a conflict between our or one or more of our affiliates’ obligations and your interests as a holder of the Notes. Moreover, we, CGMI and our
respective affiliates may have published, and in the future expect to publish, research reports with respect to the Reference Asset. This research is modified from time to time without notice and may express opinions or provide
recommendations that are inconsistent with purchasing or holding the Notes. Any of these activities by us, CGMI or one or more of our affiliates may affect the price of the Reference Asset, and, therefore, the market value of the
Notes.
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|
Absolute Return Barrier Notes Linked to the
SPDR® S&P® 500 ETF Trust
Royal Bank of Canada
|
|
|
Absolute Return Barrier Notes Linked to the
SPDR® S&P® 500 ETF Trust
Royal Bank of Canada
|
|
|
Absolute Return Barrier Notes Linked to the
SPDR® S&P® 500 ETF Trust
Royal Bank of Canada
|
|
|
Absolute Return Barrier Notes Linked to the
SPDR® S&P® 500 ETF Trust
Royal Bank of Canada
|
Period-Start Date
|
Period-End Date
|
High Intra-Day Price
of the Reference
Asset ($)
|
Low Intra-Day Price
of the Reference
Asset ($)
|
Period-End Closing
Price of the Reference
Asset ($)
|
||||
1/1/2008
|
3/31/2008
|
146.99
|
126.00
|
131.89
|
||||
4/1/2008
|
6/30/2008
|
144.30
|
127.04
|
128.04
|
||||
7/1/2008
|
9/30/2008
|
131.50
|
110.97
|
116.54
|
||||
10/1/2008
|
12/31/2008
|
116.69
|
74.35
|
90.33
|
||||
1/1/2009
|
3/31/2009
|
94.45
|
67.10
|
79.44
|
||||
4/1/2009
|
6/30/2009
|
96.11
|
78.33
|
91.92
|
||||
7/1/2009
|
9/30/2009
|
108.06
|
87.01
|
105.56
|
||||
10/1/2009
|
12/31/2009
|
113.03
|
101.99
|
111.44
|
||||
1/1/2010
|
3/31/2010
|
118.10
|
104.58
|
116.99
|
||||
4/1/2010
|
6/30/2010
|
122.12
|
102.88
|
103.22
|
||||
7/1/2010
|
9/30/2010
|
115.79
|
101.13
|
114.12
|
||||
10/1/2010
|
12/31/2010
|
126.20
|
106.46
|
125.78
|
||||
1/1/2011
|
3/31/2011
|
134.69
|
125.28
|
132.51
|
||||
4/1/2011
|
6/30/2011
|
137.17
|
126.19
|
131.97
|
||||
7/1/2011
|
9/30/2011
|
135.70
|
110.27
|
113.17
|
||||
10/1/2011
|
12/31/2011
|
129.41
|
107.43
|
125.50
|
||||
1/1/2012
|
3/31/2012
|
141.83
|
126.43
|
140.72
|
||||
4/1/2012
|
6/30/2012
|
142.21
|
127.14
|
136.27
|
||||
7/1/2012
|
9/30/2012
|
148.11
|
132.60
|
143.93
|
||||
10/1/2012
|
12/31/2012
|
147.15
|
134.70
|
142.52
|
||||
1/1/2013
|
3/31/2013
|
156.85
|
144.74
|
156.55
|
||||
4/1/2013
|
6/30/2013
|
169.06
|
153.55
|
160.01
|
||||
7/1/2013
|
9/30/2013
|
173.60
|
160.22
|
168.10
|
||||
10/1/2013
|
12/31/2013
|
184.67
|
164.53
|
184.67
|
||||
1/1/2014
|
3/31/2014
|
188.96
|
173.72
|
187.04
|
||||
4/1/2014
|
6/30/2014
|
196.60
|
181.31
|
195.72
|
||||
7/1/2014
|
9/30/2014
|
201.85
|
190.55
|
197.02
|
||||
10/1/2014
|
12/31/2014
|
212.97
|
181.92
|
205.50
|
||||
1/1/2015
|
3/31/2015
|
212.24
|
197.86
|
206.43
|
||||
4/1/2015
|
6/30/2015
|
213.77
|
204.51
|
205.85
|
||||
7/1/2015
|
9/30/2015
|
213.18
|
182.95
|
191.63
|
||||
10/1/2015
|
12/31/2015
|
211.66
|
189.12
|
203.89
|
||||
1/1/2016
|
3/31/2016
|
206.87
|
181.02
|
205.56
|
||||
4/1/2016
|
6/30/2016
|
212.52
|
198.66
|
209.53
|
||||
7/1/2016
|
9/30/2016
|
219.60
|
207.06
|
216.30
|
||||
10/1/2016
|
12/31/2016
|
228.34
|
208.39
|
223.53
|
||||
1/1/2017
|
3/31/2017
|
240.32
|
223.89
|
235.74
|
||||
4/1/2017
|
6/30/2017
|
245.01
|
232.51
|
241.80
|
||||
7/1/2017
|
9/30/2017
|
251.31
|
240.35
|
251.23
|
||||
10/1/2017
|
12/31/2017
|
268.60
|
251.40
|
266.86
|
||||
1/1/2018
|
3/31/2018
|
286.58
|
252.92
|
263.15
|
||||
4/1/2018
|
6/30/2018
|
279.48
|
254.68
|
271.28
|
||||
7/1/2018
|
9/28/2018
|
293.93
|
269.25
|
290.72
|
||||
10/1/2018
|
10/29/2018
|
293.21
|
259.86
|
263.86
|
|
|
Absolute Return Barrier Notes Linked to the
SPDR® S&P® 500 ETF Trust
Royal Bank of Canada
|
|
|
Absolute Return Barrier Notes Linked to the
SPDR® S&P® 500 ETF Trust
Royal Bank of Canada
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Absolute Return Barrier Notes Linked to the
SPDR® S&P® 500 ETF Trust
Royal Bank of Canada
|