U.S. stocks rose on Thursday, underpinned by a rebound in technology shares, while renewed concerns about the economy boosted defensive stocks.

China’s exports advanced at a 28% pace in May, despite growing economic turbulence in the United States and Europe, underscoring yet again that the Asian giant doesn’t need Western markets to flourish.

Yes, I’ll admit it: I’m bearish on the stock market. I’m still concerned about sending more funds out into the market for one fundamental reason: Rampant energy inflation.

It was the usual doom and gloom when I opened the paper this morning. The Bank of England predicts a protracted slowdown. It’s revised its growth forecast for next year to 1.5%, down from a 2009 forecast of 2.8% made last year.

Is the economy poised for a recovery, as the stock market seems to expect? Or are we in for another few more quarters of recession and/or slow growth?

Deere’s Bountiful Harvest; Dupont Teams Up with Danisco; Miller Takes Over Grolsch Distribution; China Quake May Pause Interest Rate Hike; Aluminum Corp. of China May Nab BHP Stake; Whole Food Drops on Disappointing Sales Gain; Food Costs Sink Jack in the Box; Freddie Mac Gets Creative with the Books.

Time was, “As General Motors goes, so goes the nation.” What would be the suitable substitute for GM in post-industrial, post-modern, post-Bretton Woods America? Wal-Mart? Or maybe Starbucks?

It seems like just another Monday. But the world always changes a little over the weekend. And this weekend, we reckon it changed a lot. The Opes story dominates the headlines. But the collapse of margin lending and leverage probably isn’t the biggest story this week. It’s the increase in food and energy prices we have our eye on this week.