What term refers to the financial rights to the assets of a business?

The term that refers to the financial rights to the assets of a business is "equities." Equities represent the residual interest in the assets of a business after deducting liabilities. In other words, equities encompass the ownership stake in the business. This includes the owner's equity, which is specifically the interests of the owners in the company's assets, but more broadly, equities can also refer to all forms of ownership, like stockholders’ equity in a corporation.

Understanding equities is crucial for analyzing a company's balance sheet, as it helps stakeholders determine the value of their investment and the financial health of the business. It essentially reflects how much of the total assets are funded by the owner's contributions and retained earnings, thereby highlighting the rights of owners over the business's assets.

The other terms, such as asset and liability, refer to different aspects of the financial equation. Assets are resources owned by the business, while liabilities are obligations the business owes to others. Owner's equity is a specific type of equity that explicitly represents the owner's claims to the business after all liabilities have been settled. However, in the context of the question, the broader term "equities" is more encompassing and accurately captures the financial rights to all business assets.