... had fallen some time before to the bed-rock quotation

[shootingstar]

It could scarce be said to better my position, but the step quieted the woman; and, on the other hand, I could not think I was taking much risk, for the shares in question (they were those of what I will call the Catamount Silver Mine) had fallen some time before to the bed-rock quotation, and now lay perfectly inert, or were only kicked (like other waste-paper) about the kennel of the exchange by bankrupt speculators.

(The Wrecker by R. L. Stevenson and L. Osbourne, chapter vii, published 1892)

Maybe that's something for brokers. Is bedrock quotation a set phrase in stock exchange parlance? Please what does it exactly mean?

 

[SoothingDave]

I can't say if it's a fixed expression, but I think not. Understand "bedrock" here to be the lowest possible level. The stocks were basically worthless.

 

[Skrej]

I agree with Dave. I don't think it's a fixed financial expression. It's just a variation on 'hit rock bottom'.

You could use these expressions to refer to any number of things that were at a very low point, not just stocks - emotions, morale, attendance, account balances, public favor, and more.

Note too that it's a bit of word play. These are stocks in a mining operation, so there's a certain irony in referring to bedrock. It's almost a pun.

 

[shootingstar]

Note too that it's a bit of word play. These are stocks in a mining operation, so there's a certain irony in referring to bedrock. It's almost a pun.

Yes, thank you very much. Fine you pointed out this aspect. Bedrock even seems to have a geological meaning.