Mumbai, Aug 3 - A key index of the Indian equities markets climbed back into the green Monday after slipping into the red briefly and was ruling 76.9 points up from its last closing figure a little before noon, while other Asian markets were trading mixed.

At 11.40 a.m., the 30-scrip benchmark index of the Bombay Stock Exchange (BSE), the Sensex, which opened higher at 15,694.78 points, was at 15,747.21 points -- 76.9 points or 0.49 percent higher than Friday's close.

The S&P CNX Nifty of the National Stock Exchange (NSE), too, was trading in the green at 4,648.55 points, up 0.26 percent.

Broader market indices similarly moved into positive terrain with the BSE midcap index trading 1.23 percent higher and the BSE smallcap index moving up 0.78 percent.

Of the 13 sectoral indices on the BSE, those for auto, metal and realty stocks gained the most, while FMCG and consumer durables scrips came under selling pressure.

The market breadth was positive, with 1,367 stocks rising, compared to 959 declining on the BSE and 69 remaining unchanged.