Huh? It is?
Now this is LTC/BTC, but you can surely get a sense. Recently LTC/USD has been tracking roughly 10x LTC/BTC. Real pitfall on BTC-e if you're not paying attention.
I nominate THIS as kewlest website of the year:
http://www.cryptocoincharts.info/...and yes I am a shareholder.
when BTC was $10 then the LTC/USD tracked at a 10x value against LTC/BTC.. but now BTC is $12 theres a 12x difference.
(rought current prices) 0.005LTC x 12 = $0.06 per ltc
you will see that the price is never a 10x value constantly.. ull find that if LTC/USD changed.. the BTC/LTC changes to even out the the balance. the only reason its believed there is a 10-12 multiple is because the BTC/USD has hung around those prices for so long. but if BTC dropped to $6 or rose to $20 the 10-12 multiplier will not remain constant
so if BTC goes under $10 but LTC stays at $0.06 then the BTC/LTC will go above 0.006
its why the LTC/BTC is more volatile with prices. as small changes on the dollar side can vastly alter the profitability of BTC/LTC direct trades. its why the LTC/USD is slow and more stable with less trades happening per hour / day..
so use the dollar sides of crypto to plan the direction the LTC/BTC direct prices will change to. but be quick as someone else will calculate it to and beat you to a arbitrage profit