The Coca-Cola Co. (KO) said Friday that it would invest $2 billion in China over the next three years. That’s 25% more than the $1.6 billion Coke has invested in China during the past 30 years.

Embattled U.S. banking giant Citigroup Inc. (C) has agreed to buy back $17.4 billion of assets remaining in a series of funds known as structured investment vehicles, or SIVs, after it previously agreed to guarantee the liabilities in those funds.

Riddle me this: When is it good news when an analyst slashes his price target for a stock by 55%? Answer: When that “reduced” target price still represents a 59% gain. That’s precisely the scenario facing Companhia Vale do Rio Doce (ADR: RIO), the world’s biggest iron-ore producer.

With Priceline.com Inc. (PCLN) – the name-your-own-price travel-services player – it’s time to either beam up or buy in. Priceline – the online airfare and hotel-booking firm known for its kitschy TV ad campaign that stars “Star Trek” star William Shatner as “The Negotiator” – is an interesting possible profit play, thanks to its strong balance sheet and market muscle in the bargain-hunting end of the travel-services sector, the financial weekly Barron’s says.

President Elect Barack Obama promises to rebuild America “calloused hand by calloused hand.” David Fessler says Airgas Inc. (NYSE:ARG) is an great way to play an infrastructure boom. The company is the largest manufacturer and distributor of industrial, medical and speciality gases in the country. It’s business is well insulated from the economic slowdown, and it just hiked its dividend payment by 33%.

Generally speaking, you never want to be the first person to show up at a cocktail/dinner party.Chances are, you’ll spend the first part of your evening fidgeting nervously, stuffing yourself full of cheese and crackers, and eagerly hoping for some other guests to show up to add to the conversation. Yep, showing up first… bad for parties, but great when investing.