Mumbai: The benchmark BSE Sensex rose over 44 points to 26,172.72 in early trade today, extending gains for the third straight session as investors indulged in widening their positions ahead of GDP data for the September quarter.

However, caution prevailed ahead of RBI's fifth bi-monthly monetary policy review tomorrow and continuing fund outflows by foreign investors amid weakness at other Asian markets.

The 30-share index, which had gained 352.46 points in the previous two sessions, rose 44.52 points, or 0.17 percent, at 26,172.72 with auto, capital goods, power, banking, realty and consumer durables sector stocks trading in the positive zone.

The NSE Nifty was also trading higher by 13.90 points, or 0.17 percent, at 7,956.60.

Brokers said pick up in buying by participants ahead of GDP data for the September quarter, to be released later in the day and hopes that the government will push for a compromise on the GST Bill in the ongoing winter session of Parliament, influenced sentiments.

They said, however, a weak trend at other Asian markets as investors await key U.S. jobs figures and a European Central Bank meeting later this week, limited the gains.

Among other Asian markets, Japan's Nikkei lost 0.79 percent while Shanghai's Composite index shed 1.19 percent in early trade. Hong Kong's Hang Seng index was down 0.31 percent.

The U.S. Dow Jones Industrial Average ended 0.08 percent down in Friday's trade.

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