THANKYOU layout thats what I was getting at !!!!
If I buy a coin and it goes up in USD then it has gained value regardless of its value with BTC ??
So as an example I buy a coin for $100 and it goes up 100$ against the USD BUT goes down 20% against BTC - I have still made $ 100

Is that correct

Correct. You will have gained USD 100,- but have lost value relative in terms of BTC. The latter meaning that you'd have gained more USD if you would have invested in BTC instead of the alt coin.
Makes sense?