An MR head in which a spin-valve device unit is formed into a horizontal shape and an anti-ferromagnetic layer is not required, is provided. The spin-valve device unit includes a first ferromagnetic layer, one and another permanent magnetic layers arranged on both end portions of the first ferromagnetic layer and creating a magnetic path from one of the end portions of the first ferromagnetic layer toward the other thereof. A second ferromagnetic layer is provided above the first ferromagnetic layer through a non-magnetic conductive layer and a soft magnetic layer is provided above the second ferromagnetic layer through a non-magnetic layer. The both end portions of the second ferromagnetic layer are designed to contact with outer end portions of the permanent magnet layers, respectively. Surfaces of the permanent magnet layers are perpendicular to the surface of a magnetic storage medium and to the magnetization direction thereof.