Briefly

Merrill Lynch & Co., a focus of state and federal inquiries about research analysts’ conduct, said Monday that it fired analyst Phua Young for sending reports about Tyco International Ltd. to institutional clients before getting management approval. Merrill spokeswoman Susan McCabe confirmed the dismissal, reported by the New York Times. Young couldn’t be reached for comment.

The brokerage didn’t object to the content of Young’s reports, but the e-mails he sent were a violation of firm policy and regulatory standards, McCabe said.