Opinion: A hard market?

Is Hiscox calling a hard market?
When you look at the£450.0mn ($594.1mn) pre-emption that the business has
requested from Lloyd's for next year, it is impossible to avoid
asking the question.
Has one of the most astute and successful underwriters of
primary cat-exposed property and property treaty just called a
market turn?
Because on the surface it certainly looks like it.
This top-quartile Lloyd's business has requested permission
from the Corporation to boost the stamp for Syndicate 33