BUY The South Financial Group, Inc. – last $0.99. TSFG operates as the holding company for Carolina First Bank that provides a range of commercial and consumer banking products and services in South Carolina, Florida, and North Carolina. The company?s products and services include deposits, loans, treasury management, merchant processing, full-service brokerage and investments, business and personal insurance, trust, investment management, financial planning, wealth management, and private banking. It also provides Internet banking services, such as bill payment services. The company serves small business, middle market companies, and retail consumers. As of December 31, 2008, The South Financial Group operated through 82 branch offices in South Carolina, 71 in Florida, and 27 in North Carolina. Company expects to post a more than ten-fold jump in quarterly loss, hurt by a $200 million charge and a spike in loan loss provisions. The company expects third-quarter net loss of $340.8 million, or $1.95 a share, compared with a loss of $31.2 million, or 43 cents a share, last year. Analysts on average were looking for a loss of 44 cents a share, before items. During the quarter, the company recorded income tax expense of $123 million, which includes the recognition of a $200 million non-cash charge to establish a valuation allowance for deferred tax assets, South Financial said in a statement. Loan-loss provision rose 71 percent to $224.2 million, exceeding net charge-offs by $55.6 million. Final quarterly results are pending completion of a goodwill impairment, South Financial said.  Best Idea – - SPM+Game Theory 61 LONG (special situation) — Projected target price $1.50 – - 2009-Oct-21 09:09:55: BUY TSFG @ 0.99.