US wrap: Banks offer differing risk levels linked to S&P 500

RBC offers risky exposure to the US market

Index-based investments have returned to the benchmarks for the latest issuance but there are discrepancies between the risks an investor takes on for different products based on the S&P 500.

The safer bet is the Barclays review product, which has a riskmap rating of 4.2. The 15-month product offers a return of 12.85% plus capital if the S&P 500 is at or above its initial level on the review date in November 2011.

If the kick-out requirements are not met and the 85% barrier is breached, capital