Direct answer
You may be able to trade forex on thinkorswim, but you cannot conclude that forex trading is available without verifying the specific forex instruments offered to your account. Platforms like thinkorswim provide a trading interface, while actual market access depends on the broker’s product availability, account eligibility, and regulatory/jurisdiction rules.
How it works (within carry trade context)
Carry trade is the strategy concept of seeking returns from interest-rate differentials between currencies. In practice, you typically need to open and hold a position in one currency against another, so the trading platform must offer the relevant forex instruments and allow the required position types.
On a platform such as thinkorswim, the workflow is usually: (1) choose an instrument that represents a forex pair, (2) confirm that the account supports that instrument, and (3) place orders according to the platform’s supported order and position settings. The key verification is not whether you can “view” forex-related information, but whether you can submit forex orders for the forex instruments that carry trade would require.
Example checks you can do independently
To confirm whether forex trading is possible on your thinkorswim setup, treat it as an availability question rather than a strategy question:
- Instrument availability: Look for forex pairs or forex products in the instrument search/selection area and verify that they are actionable (not only watchlist items).
- Account permissions: Check whether the account type you use is eligible to trade those instruments.
- Order capability: Confirm that you can place the types of orders you need for a carry trade approach (for example, the ability to open and manage positions over time).
- Settlement and costs: Review how forex positions are charged (spreads/fees) and how carry-related interest (if applicable) is reflected in the platform’s reporting.
If you cannot find tradable forex instruments, or you see them only as non-tradable symbols, then you do not have forex trading access on that platform for your account.
Limitations and risks to keep in mind
Even when forex trading is supported, carry trade results are uncertain. Interest-rate differentials are only one driver; exchange-rate moves can reduce, eliminate, or reverse gains. Market stress, volatility, and changes in interest-rate expectations can also affect currency prices quickly.
Finally, product availability can change and can differ by account and region. Because you asked for a bounded, verifiable answer, the safest approach is to confirm forex tradability directly in your thinkorswim account rather than relying on general assumptions about the platform.