FRANKFURT, Dec 20 (Reuters) - Hitachi Energy, a Swiss-based supplier of power technology and electrification, said on Friday it has signed contracts worth more than $2 billion with German grid operator Amprion for four converter stations. The stations for the high-voltage grid operator's Korridor B project contribute to Germany's energy transition, which requires the upgrading and building of power lines...

* US spending on luxury brands down 6% on year * Luxury demand fragile after US election * Moves could erode profit margins By Mimosa Spencer PARIS, Dec 20 (Reuters) - Confronting a broad decline in demand for their usual fare, including $3,000-and-up handbags and $4,000-and-up cashmere jackets, major marketers of designer and luxury merchandise are broadening their product lines...

LONDON (Reuters) - Private equity funds in Europe, even though flush with cash, are thinking twice about buying businesses that could be difficult to sell and carefully working through their exit plans before making more acquisitions, bankers and investors said. In one example, Brookfield walked away from making a binding offer for Spanish waste disposal firm Urbaser due to concerns...

* Declining ore grades and few new projects hinder growth * No major new mines anticipated soon; last was in 2022 * Investments focus on enhancing processing capacity By Marco Aquino LIMA, Dec 20 (Reuters) - Peruvian copper production is expected to remain flat in 2025 for the third straight year, according to the country's top mining association and industry...