Giant magnetoimpedance (GMI) was measured in Joule heated Co68.18Fe4.32Si12.5B15 amorphous wires. Samples heat treated in open air showed an asymmetric giant magnetoimpedance (AGMI) behaviour. The AGM I profile, measured at selected frequency values and bias circumferential fields, can be related to the exchange bias interaction between the soft magnetic amorphous material and a harder magnetic crystalline phase formed on the surface of the wire. The present data show that AGMI behaviour take place owing to a soft magnetic layer With unidirectional anisotropy that develops in the surface of the wire. (c) 2005 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.