ROYAL BANK/CANADA UPS U.S. BASE RATE <Royal Bank of Canada> said it is raising its U.S. base lending rate by 1/4 pct to 8-1/4 pct, effective tomorrow. The move is the first change in the bank's U.S. dollar base lending rate since last August, when it lowered the rate 1/2 point. It follows the announcement yesterday of a 1/4 point rise to 7-3/4 pct of two of the largest U.S. banks' prime rates.