The star CAC 40 index fell 42.29 points to 6,431.19 points.
On Monday, it rebounded 0.32% after a turbulent week.
Analysts expected no change in Japanese monetary policy and were surprised by the BoJ's decision to adjust its tight control of Japanese bond yields.
The monetary institution announced that it would now tolerate a fluctuation in the yields of ten-year Japanese government bonds between -0.5% and +0.5%.
Until then, it had set a ceiling of 0.25%.
"The modification may seem minor, but it is the first change in monetary policy since the implementation of this tool, in 2016!"
comments Christian Parisot for the broker Aurel BGC.
The Tokyo Stock Exchange fell and the yen jumped in the wake of this announcement.
On the bond market, interest rates also raced, that of the French 10-year debt was worth 2.79% against 2.72% the day before.
In Europe, the United States, the United Kingdom and even Australia, central banks have tightened their monetary policy in an attempt to bring inflation down to an acceptable level, which has hurt the economy.
At the end of the year, investors are worried about the growth prospects for 2023.
Michael Hewson, analyst at CMC Markets, doubts in this context the feasibility of the traditional "Christmas rally", a rise in equity markets observed regularly around the end of the year holidays, when trading volumes dry up.
Strong impact for Engie
Engie shares fell 6.36% to 13.07 euros, after the energy company assessed the impact on its operating profit in 2023 of the new European contribution to the profits of energy groups at an amount between 1. 2 and 1.5 billion euros.
Elior and Derichebourg mingle
The collective catering group Elior has announced that it has "signed a protocol" with its main shareholder, the recycling group Derichebourg, to acquire its multi-service division "DMS", an operation financed via a capital increase which will see Derichebourg rise to 48.4 % of Elior.
The Elior share gained 8.06% to 3.41 euros while that of Derichebourg yielded 2.75% to 5.30 euros.
© 2022 AFP