To enhance MR sensitivity, to increase a reproducing output at a high density recording time and to improve an S/N ratio by providing a magnetization fixed layer magnetized parallel in the magnetic field direction of a signal from a magnetic disk, a conductive layer imparted with a current from the outside for detecting a resistance change for reading the signal and a magnetization free layer with an axis of easy magnetization parallel to the signal magnetic field direction.

Permanent magnet films are set upon both sides of a spin valve type magneto-sensitive element 18, and a vertical bias magnetic field Ht is applied, and when the intensity of the magnetic field Ht having a predetermined suitable value is selected, a hysteresis is eliminated in the signal magnetic field response of the resistance change of the magneto-sensitive element 18. The signal magnetic field response of the resistance change of the magneto-sensitive element 18 is based on magnetization inversion in the axis of easy magnetization direction, and sensitivity for the magnetic field is high. The direction of the uniaxial magnetic anisotropy Hk of the magnetization free layer 13 of the magneto-sensitive element 18 is parallel to the signal magnetic field direction, and an occurrence magnetic field Ht of vertical bias layers 14 set upon both sides of the magneto-sensitive element 18 is Ht≥Hk.