Magnetoresistive (MR) elements are disclosed that include pinned layers
having canted magnetic moments. An MR element of the invention includes a
first pinning layer, a first pinned layer, a first spacer/barrier layer,
a free layer, a second spacer/barrier layer, a second pinned layer, and a
second pinning layer. The first pinned layer has a canted magnetic
moment. By having a canted magnetic moment, the first pinned layer acts
as a bias layer to bias the free layer, and acts as a reference layer to
enhance the MR signal in the MR element.